Stories of animated skeletons have been around foe aeons.
This Animated skeletons in The Dance of Death (1493), a woodcut by Michael Wolgemut, from Hartmann Schedel’s the Liber chronicarum.
One of the oldest sources for animated skeletons, is the story of Jason and the Argonauts is the Argonautica, written by Apollonius of Rhodes. This was an epic poem, much like the Iliad and the Odyssey, however, instead of focusing on the Trojan War and the aftermath, the Argonautica follows the adventures of the young prince Jason. The fight with animated skeletons has been graphically displayed on the big screen in the 1963 epic of the same name (photo above).
Once upon a time (I am an old guy so I can use it!) I used to have a large WFB Undead army, but it has long since “departed” (yes pun intended!). I searched around the “cave” and couldn’t initially find anything and then I realised I had won a box of Wargames Atlantic Skeletons at a Con some time ago.
These will do nicley for my purposes which is to have just a few for games Like “The Silver Bayonet”.
The skeleton can be equipped with bow, side arm, or spear and can have hoplite like shields which I have not used as I want them to be more generic.
As the boxset has 32 figures I decided to make up ten of each with an officer, standard bearer and musician, starting with some bowmen.
The Officer
The Standard bearer
Musician
Some of the bowmen
I will put together the other two units over the next three days.
The serpopard is a mythical animal that appears in ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian art, captivating the imagination of those who encounter it. The word “serpopard” is a modern term that combines the words “serpent” and “leopard”, reflecting the creature’s unique and fascinating anatomy.
These dangerous creatures have the body of either a lion or leopard but with a long, snake-like head, which writhes and twists with strangely hypnotic movements that can entrance even the most stalwart observer.
While rare, these elusive beings are sometimes encountered in dark and foreboding chambers deep beneath the earth, where they guard not only ancient knowledge but also the secrets of lost civilizations that once thrived above ground.
They are rarely found near physical treasure because they dislike precious metals like gold and silver, making them indifferent to wealth. Like many cat-like creatures, serpopards are playful but can be cruel; they often toy with their prey by poisoning them and letting them run in fear before finally killing them, showing their predatory nature.
These behaviors contribute to the legends surrounding them, echoing throughout folklore as a cautionary tale to those who dare to venture too close to their lairs.
Next in this project is some “Werejackals” from North Star’s “The Silver Bayonet” range.
Although it is theoretically possible for any creature to be reanimated as a zombie, some animals, like humans and camels, seem to have a VIP pass to the zombie party, thanks to certain biological quirks that make their systems more susceptible to decay and reanimation.
Imagine a camel, complete with a jaunty zombie swagger, stumbling through the desert, raising eyebrows and a few laughs as it tries to find a suitable snack that doesn’t involve sand.
This hilarious scenario poses some eyebrow-raising questions about life, death, and how many brains it takes to make a good ecosystem—because let’s be honest, nobody wants a zombie camel crashing their picnic!
While other species are around, only a select few seem to have the right combination of charm and genetic mischief to join the undead club, leading us to ponder what really makes a creature “alive” when the line between life and brains gets a bit blurry.
Zombie camels, resembling pitiable tourists as they shuffle across the hot sands, can surprisingly turn fierce when threatened, making travelers think twice about shortcuts through the desert.
Their once-majestic forms are now shadows of their past, and they carry memories of better days.
If disturbed, these camels become swift defenders of their territory and serve as reminders of the harsh realities of their sunbaked home, balancing between being silly creatures and snack-seeking predators.
These grotesque beings have a ravenous appetite for flesh and will bite at living creatures with a horrible intensity, using their powerful jaws to inflict severe wounds.
Their shambling gait can deceive one into thinking they are harmless, but once within striking distance, the threat they pose becomes all too real.
Furthermore, killing a zombie camel is no easy task, as they are remarkably resilient and difficult to put down for good, often rising again after being seemingly dispatched, thus instilling fear in those who dare to wander too close to their desolate territories.
Did you know that Australia has more camels than Egypt? Yes, you heard that right! We’re basically the surprise camel capital of the world, exporting our furry friends to Saudi Arabia like they’re the newest trend in pet ownership. It’s funny to think these camels initially arrived as transport and laborers for our rugged outback, but now they’re the original party crashers of the desert, with a population that’s ballooned to about a million! Thanks to our unique climate, they’ve been living their best lives—think endless sandy beaches and no need for sunscreen. Australia has become the ultimate camel delivery service to the Middle East, satisfying demand for racing, breeding, and cultural coolness. Who knew our exports would lead to a camel racing league instead of a coffee export?
The new “Shades of Calabria” deal arrived in the post yesterday.
In the past I have just purchased the new supplement and then later purchased the monsters required to play. This time I decided to pre-order the whole Wave 8 deal, and was not disappointed. The deal includes the book and has two new faction boxes and twenty-three monsters was well worth it. North Star service and postage at this time of the year was excellent.
I also picked up the second Austrian unit at the same time.
I think the order of painting outlined yesterday has already changed.
As I have the second box set of Austrians on the way from North Star Miniatures I thought it was about time that I took a serious look at the Austrians for Silver Bayonet.
I have the original boxed set and have done a very little work on them.
The original box set below.
The Austrian army can have the following types of soldiers:
Officer
This is the officer from the first box set.
Dhamphir
The undercoated one is from the first box set and the second is from the spares box, but not sure on the manufacturer. You can only have one per unit, so that is why I have two!
Doctor
Again a nineteenth century civilian from the spares box that will do as a doctor.
Grenadiers
Assorted Austrian Grenadiers from the “collection” with the one on the right from the original boxed set.
Infantrymen
Normal infantrymen, four pre-1809 and one post. I will paint as a mixture of Austrians and Hungarians.
Junior Leader
I don’t believe they are not worth the points, but I have him so why not paint him up just in case!
Heavy and Light Cavalry
I really like the figure reading a map on a tree stump and will add a horse on a base like I did for one of the highwaymen.
Marine/Sailor etc.
Although not in the Austrian list these can be added as per the “going outside the list” rule on page 28 of the rule book, by paying the additional 8 points.
Supernatural Investigator
A figure from the first boxed set but I am not a fan, particularly as it is armed incorrectly for the troop type.
Occultist
I also have the one below from the first boxed set.
Sapper
A sapper in the boring standard pose most manufacturers tend to use!
Veteran Hunter
A nice figure from the original boxed set. I like the model but find these troop types too expensive for a starting unit.
Artillerist
Looks nothing like what it should – see below. Despite this a figure I would consider using.
Austrian Irregular
Not sure where she came from but this figure will look OK painted up. “Angelika” the Tyrolean is a force to be reckoned with, so you Frenchies should look out.
Here is a proposed Austrian list:
Leader: With +1Health, +1 Melee +1 Courage, Medic, Hard to put down, Breastplate, Holy Symbol, Musket, Cartridge box, and Fencing Weapon.
Occultist: Spells, Supernatural Veteran, Hand weapon, Holy symbol, Oil and torches.
This group can manage well in most situations. The leader excels in close combat and can use his musket while moving. He can also heal wounds for those near him. The Dhamphir is a strong close combat fighter, dealing damage with his two pistols. There are five other team members providing long-range musket fire, making six with the leader, so they should win most long-range battles. The occultist can be a nuisance by enchanting weapons, cursing opponents to suffer penalties, and manipulating the Fate pool to add more challenges.
A mistake I often see is players not using the maximum of 7 character choices. More is better in Silver Bayonet. Fewer more powerful characters never works.
A final option would be to swap the Dhamphir for a Champion of the Faith for 28 recruitment points, including the “going outside the list” penalty of eight points. This turns the force into a long range combat force as the Champion of the Faith and the Officer, can hide behind the muskets healing troops with miracles and the “medic” trait as they suffer damage. With the two points saved you can now afford to swap the occultist for a Supernatural Investigator. This would be my preferred option, but all in all, either option is a good combination.
