KSII Dragons - THE CHOOSENING

[Aard_Rinn]

So, I am currently reviewing my options, dragon-wise, for KSII, and I'm having a few questions.

 

Namely, I'm looking at Nathrax, Blightfang, and Cinder. Originally, I had planned to get three Narthrax and one each of the others... but the more I look at Blightfang, the less I like her. Even Cinder I'm kind of "meh" about... I have a cool idea for her scales, so I need at least one, but that's her only appeal to me. But Blightfang... I just don't like her scales! They look so rough in the picture... It reminds me of a fish with late-stage ich, or a snake that has a serious vitamin deficiency - more rough and jagged than scale-like, really... I'm not sure how I could paint her without her looking gross; even the one on the box looks gweh in my opinion... I'm not sure if it's just because it's an older sculpt, or because I haven't seen any really cool versions of her, but I'm having a hard time persuading myself not to drop her for another Narthrax. I know what I want to do with HIM, after all... I need a copper one, and a blue one, and I've got a few patterns from fish I want to try, and then I have an idea for a green one with a cream underbelly and dark green striping and red markings... I kind of have a thing for Narthrax.

 

But anyways! If anyone's painted a Blightfang and can tell me about those scales, or has cool pictures or closeups, I'd love to see them! I really want to get one of each dragon, but I'm getting two DDSII, and that's eating up a lot of my dragon budget... And two Kanjiras... and three Narthrax... and two of CE1... and I caved for Velocithrax... So I've already allocated most of my dragon funds, you see.

[Evilhalfling]

if your getting 3 narthax, get a blightfang as well.

Oddly Blightfang and the silver from core #2 topped my list of dragons.

ill have to go back and look a blightfangs scales now.

 

velcithrax is right at the bottom for being funny looking.

DDSII is next up on my list, but financing is pending.

Edited November 11, 2013 by Evilhalfling

[Aard_Rinn]

Yeah, I'm not super into V either, but he looks like he'll be pricey when he comes out, if I decide to change my mind. I may swap him for a spare Kraken/extra Nathavarr, though, depending on how finances work out... I've gotta say, though, I'm with you on the silver. I'm in for 2 of core one mostly for him - I like the other stuff, Dragon Turtle especially, and it's got lots of good stuff to trade, but aaaaah! That dragon! SO CUTE! Even though he's kind of in a boring pose, he's got such an expressive face, and he looks so friendly - I love him! :D

[Qwyksilver]

Blightfang's scales aren't rough, they are meant to mimic leaves. It was released in '06, so it's not really an old dragon.

[Slendertroll]

What's Blightfang's size look like compared to the other dragons in Reaper's catalogue? Especially, say, the PF Red and Deathsleet? I'm having this exact difficulty myself.

[Qwyksilver]

Blightfang > Deathsleet > PF Red

[TheAuldGrump]

I just recently finished painting a Blightfang - the scales are indeed leaf like. (I painted and sold my metal Blightfang in preparation for getting the new Bones Blightfang.) The ventral plates also have some detailing, so there is very little that can be described as a flat surface.

 

A very nice figure, with a lot of detail, and very tightly fitting joins.

 

This was mostly a touch up - I have had the figure painted for over a year

 

I primed with Angel Green from The Army Painter, then highlighted up to Reaper Viper Green. The ventral plates I painted Ruddy Brown.

 

One change - I painted a triangular pattern on the wings in the same Ruddy Brown, outlining with a sandy color that I do not remember the name of. I picture dragons as ambush predators, and this broke up the silhouette quite nicely.

 

The figure sold as I was working on it, so I am pretty happy.

 

I am looking forward to the Bones version - I paint miniatures for use, and have grown fond of the nigh indestructable nature of the Bones. Too many of my dragons sit on shelves, gathering dust, because I don't want to risk damaging them in transit. (And too many have been damaged.)

 

The Auld Grump

Edited November 11, 2013 by TheAuldGrump

[Aard_Rinn]

See, that's what I got from the picture! My only concern is that I want a dragon, not a topiary... I'm just worried that the leaf texture seems... a bit much?

[TheAuldGrump]

See, that's what I got from the picture! My only concern is that I want a dragon, not a topiary... I'm just worried that the leaf texture seems... a bit much?

Given that green dragons in D&D/Pathfinder are supposed to be forest dragons... I disagree. Strongly - Blightfang is one of the best dragons out there, in my opinion at the least. I like it better than Cinder, Ebonwrath, or Deathsleet. (I have all of these.)

 

Take a look at some real world scales and patterning - I based the coloration that I used on an Australian water dragon.

 

My suggestion is to try to find a Blightfang that you can look at in person. It is a very impressive, and heavy, model.

 

The weight is the only downside - and why I sold off my metal version.

 

The Auld Grump

[Aard_Rinn]

Unlikely, I'm afraid, since I seem to be the only mini collector at my school... still, if it comes so highly recommended, and from such an auspicious auld grognard, who am I to say no? I'll pick one up, as long as finances work out for me... I do tend to prefer the more jagged, knifelike look, myself. Narthrax... is my favorite dragon mini I have ever seen, although I will admit I have not seen as many as some. It looks just so perfectly dragony... I will probably try to buy five, if I can make the money work. It's just such a perfect look... AAAHHH I NEED A MILLION OF HIM! Although I would be even happier if someone could arrange to pull a Kaladrax on him and make him ginormous for me...

[TheAuldGrump]

Unlikely, I'm afraid, since I seem to be the only mini collector at my school... still, if it comes so highly recommended, and from such an auspicious auld grognard, who am I to say no? I'll pick one up, as long as finances work out for me... I do tend to prefer the more jagged, knifelike look, myself. Narthrax... is my favorite dragon mini I have ever seen, although I will admit I have not seen as many as some. It looks just so perfectly dragony... I will probably try to buy five, if I can make the money work. It's just such a perfect look... AAAHHH I NEED A MILLION OF HIM! Although I would be even happier if someone could arrange to pull a Kaladrax on him and make him ginormous for me...

Well, there is no one single interpretation of Draco Terriblis, and I will agree that Guthrie's dragons are also excellent. :)

 

Part of why I look to Australian dragons as examples - they have an enormous range of shapes, colors, patterning, and texture. (I know someone that had a problem with a water dragon and his swimming pool... having to fish the thing out of the pool every morning. By all accounts a good natured critter, but it did like that pool....)

 

One of the things that I like about Bones - folks are a lot more likely to take a chance on a $20 (or $10 during the Kickstarter) dragon than on a $90 dragon (his price in tin).

 

The durable nature of Bones is also a major selling point. :)

 

For the one that I sold, I had it coming between trees, using Woodland Scenics trees on the base to make a vignette. That was the other major change that I made - I based to on a wooden plaque, since I had not bothered to do more than sand, flock, and add static grass to the CD that I had originally used as a base. I had it based for use, not sale.

 

The Auld Grump - an America Online CD... I used to have an entire shoebox of them....

 

*EDIT* I will see if the person that bought it has kept any of the pictures that he took while I was working on it - he bought it as a 'let's get back together' present for his ex-girlfriend. (It worked... they are seeing each other again, but no longer living together.)

Edited November 12, 2013 by TheAuldGrump

[Aard_Rinn]

I'd love to see that, yeah! Like I said, I'm the only person with any minis at all at my school, except for one of the older guys who has a half-dozen old metal dwarves and a paladin. I'm getting into this KS partially so I can have nice big minis to paint, but also because I need lots of minis to share, so the whole thing is a bit of a balancing act for me: table minis that will see a lot of use vs. big minis that I'll enjoy painting but won't see much table time. Some of the stuff, like Kanjira and DDSII, I'm getting multiples of just because I could never afford it at MSRP, so I'm trying to thin some of the models that won't increase as much in price - I can only raise so much money by D31, but I can always get stuff later on, or get the current dragons (I am in love with Ebonwrath, for example)...

 

Argh! So many decisions! One more question, if you don't mind - do you think it's worth it to get Nathavarr alone, and get two, and only two complete DDSII? Or should I go for three DDSII? I want to paint him, mostly - I'm kind of meh on the terrain, TBH - but I've never used terrain before...

[Evilhalfling]

looking carefully at the terrain, it doesn't look like there is much use getting 2 sets. You can't build a 4 unit high tower, for instance. You could (with some blocks/books) build a staircase twice as long, but it seems limited.

just get more dragons.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Evilhalfling

[redambrosia]

 

Argh! So many decisions! One more question, if you don't mind - do you think it's worth it to get Nathavarr alone, and get two, and only two complete DDSII? Or should I go for three DDSII? I want to paint him, mostly - I'm kind of meh on the terrain, TBH - but I've never used terrain before...

The more you use terrain, the more fun it becomes. At least in my experience. And the more you find you "need".

 

Just like the more you use minis the more you "need". Representing hordes with pennies is no longer as fun. An actual horde of orcs is where it's at. And a horde of kobolds swarming you? Pure. Divine. Pleasure.

 

I suppose that's rather weird to say... but you guys understand

[scorpio616]

Terrain eats room like nothing else, Be very cautious on stocking up on it if you are not planning to resell or give extras away..

 

Blightfangs scales are very leafy. I can understand why that might pigeon hole it as a green dragon. But it does not have to be.