Ruglud's Armoured Orcs have featured on this blog a few times before and here they are again. This time they are fully equipped and finally finished!
Some time before Christmas I managed to snaffle a bargain on ebay consisting of an incomplete set of this Regiment of Renown along with various other goodies (more of which another time), all packed up in the original box. Unfortunately the box had had sellotape wrapped round it for some reason but the collector in me is at least partially satisfied!
However, it wasn't the box, or even the additional plastic crossbows I needed to equip each trooper that had me jumping with joy. Rather tragically it was the long bases that you can fit three minis on that really got me excited - sad I know.
Maybe it was the years of ogling Kev Adams' Goblin army in the Warhammer Armies book that had instilled this strange desire of mine to possess and base some of my minis on these longer bases - who knows!
Anyhow, I am now able to field a rather formidable looking 30 strong unit of armoured Orcs, complete with crossbows - ah deep joy.
Some of my down time before Christmas was spent happily painting up the additional members of the unit and basing them. I had another good go at copying freehand some of the Arcane Armourials as featured on the troopers on the box.
So, with more equipment than you can shake a stick at (heavy armour, shields, hand weapons, halberds and crossbows), and a level 10 and 5 hero to lead them, standard bearer, musician and +3 rank bonus with two more ranks to spare - is this the first Oldhammer "Deathstar" unit?
What with these chaps and my overpowered Zombie Dragon (Rick Priestley's rules in the back of an old WD - not mine!) I might be accused of slowly turning into a power gamer... ; )
Heheh not so much a Deathstar more like a slow plodding unit, with 'Eavy Armour and Shields your movement is a pitiful 3". Now if they were on boars.... ;)
ReplyDeleteYep fair point - mind you I always loved the bit in A New Hope when the Death Star is slowly creeping round Yavin to bring the Rebel Moon into range!
DeleteRuglud's Armoured Orcs on boars for extra movement and led by a Level 25 Black Orc hero to minimise animosity - now you're talking!
Brilliant stuff. I used this unit decades ago against my opponent and while I loved the minis (and still do), the unit was a disaster: Slow and unable to hit anything with their X-bows, they would get slowly whittled down by elven archers and destroyed by treemen and Zoats. Sigh. But great minis nonetheless - perhaps I should let them out of their prison in the basement :-).
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Kasper
Sadly that was my experience with them too many moons ago - mine had Empire hand gunners, canon, volleygun and Chaos Dwarf Blunderbus to contend with though.
DeleteMind you, in their role as pin-cushion I bet they took the pressure off the rest of your boys and for that alone they deserve to be set free!
Ah, I love Ruglud's orcs. 30 is exactly the unit size I'd like for mine too. Super nice job old son!
ReplyDeleteCheers Mr S - as one of my first ever miniature purchases as a young lad they are a firm favourite here too. Good to see them finally complete and fully operational!
DeleteWhittled down by elven archers? With T4 and a save of 4+, 3+ if in shield wall? Meanwhile with x-bows they may not hit often but every hit is a kill.
ReplyDeleteGood points Erny - I was even considering advancing them in testudo formation (if that isn't too much of a stretch of the imagination for Orcs to pull off!) to about half range for their crossbows. Then they can happily sit there taking pot shots, ready to charge anything that gets too close.
DeleteGreat looking unit, Thantsants! And I smiled the smile of recognition reading of your joy of the long bases! I share the love of the 25mm sized long base too. Many of my Chaos guys are on them and it is such a wonderful feeling feeling the weight and heft of three bigish lead guys on one base. Yeah! But it is funny, the 20mm sized long bases do absolutely nothing for me. Oh, it is a strange hobby...
ReplyDeleteThanks PW - strange indeed! I reckon it must be something to do with the heft like you say. Very satisfying.
ReplyDeleteI have no experience on the 20mm long base so time will have to tell on that one...
Very, very scary. I always loved that unit, too. I have a few of those guys, but I'd love to have the whole unit. Great painting, too, of course...Love the shields. The Green worm is delightful, and I like that you've done few of them as Khorne worshippers. I'd screen them with Wolfboys or Snotlings. That might help them get into close quarters intact.
ReplyDeleteCheers Mouse - the worm was fun! There are a few Slannesh and Nurgle shields in there somewhere too. Don't know If that was just because were originally a part of the arcane armourial set used on the box art, or whether it's meant to tie in with the back story of Ruglud finding a load of dead Chaos Dwarfs and their armour in a cave?
DeleteScreening them sounds like sound tactical advice - mind you I'd always pictured Snotlings as strutting around behind their larger cousins, aping them and thinking they were well 'ard!
I have a few spare trooper if you'd like them - as well as some of the command group. I'll have to check which ones when I get home if you're interested.
You know, I've just realised Ruglud's boys would make a great allied contingent for my chaos dwarves.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure - I reckon the Chaos Stunties would be wanting their armour back!
DeleteOr were you angling for the Rugluds minis I've got spare? ; )
I wasn't, but I am now. Go on...
ReplyDeleteHa ha - oh cynical me!
DeleteWell if Mouse doesn't want them I'd be happy to send them your way.
That would be most excellent sir.
DeleteSorry fella - Mouse is very keen on them!
DeleteOne of my first purchases as a lad also, before the Slann addiction kicked in - a strange hobby indeed.
ReplyDeleteEpic unit those Rugluds you have there, love the tip of the hat to the background with the chaos shields.
Great minds obviously think alike!
DeleteTo be honest I'd never really thought about the shields and the link to the story until I started copying those arcane armourial transfers used on the minis on the box. At first I wondered why Orcs would have the mark of Khorne and Slaanesh on their shields until the penny dropped...