It is well known that deep within some of these cave systems grow certain weird species of fungus with powerful psychedelic properties The Goblin-Priests believe that these growths are the venereal warts of their Earth-Mother, and that they contain a degree of her awesome elemental power. It would appear that when properly prepared and consumed by one of her children, they can transform that creature into a terrifying instrument of her divine wrath.
It is certainly true that the onslaught of swarms of these drug-crazed fanatics, wielding enormous iron flails and shrieking such nonsense as "HOLY SHIT, I CAN SEE THROUGH TIME!" and "TRAILS! TRAILS! TRAILS!" is one of the most disconcerting sights likely to confront the Goblins' enemies.
This fact is not lost upon the Orc Warlord Big Blackie, and he has actively encouraged the growth of this Goblin Cult in order to bring as many screaming green dervishes onto the battlefields of the Black River country as possible...."
Goblin fanatics are silly, fun, random and effective troops and although I'm not likely to use more than 4 or 5 in a 3k point army, I've painted up a bunch to make sure I'll have a ready supply as Big Blackie's horde grows past 3,000 points. I suppose the bases need some explaining...
I've modeled them after the fanatics in Rick Priestly's own Orc and Goblin army as shown here on the back cover of White Dwarf #139, one of the first issues of WD I ever bought, and still one of my favorites. Opposite them are Andy Chambers' Skaven. (Sorry I don't have a better picture, my own scanner is on the fritz, and this is the only copy I could find on Google. Don't you wish they had covered this game in a battle report?) The templates appear to be 2 inch templates, without the 'clock' shown on the template in the Warhammer 3rd edition rulebook. The book claims fanatics should be mounted on the one inch base included in the book, but the template is actually closer to two inches, I think. (Just one of several errors and typos in the special troops and artillery section of that volume?)
I dunno. Anyway, I kind of like the look of 'em, and what's good enough for Rick's army is most likely good enough for mine...at some future point, I might decide to glue some twigs or pebbels to the templates to mark out some of the numbers on the clock...
This fact is not lost upon the Orc Warlord Big Blackie, and he has actively encouraged the growth of this Goblin Cult in order to bring as many screaming green dervishes onto the battlefields of the Black River country as possible...."
Goblin fanatics are silly, fun, random and effective troops and although I'm not likely to use more than 4 or 5 in a 3k point army, I've painted up a bunch to make sure I'll have a ready supply as Big Blackie's horde grows past 3,000 points. I suppose the bases need some explaining...
I've modeled them after the fanatics in Rick Priestly's own Orc and Goblin army as shown here on the back cover of White Dwarf #139, one of the first issues of WD I ever bought, and still one of my favorites. Opposite them are Andy Chambers' Skaven. (Sorry I don't have a better picture, my own scanner is on the fritz, and this is the only copy I could find on Google. Don't you wish they had covered this game in a battle report?) The templates appear to be 2 inch templates, without the 'clock' shown on the template in the Warhammer 3rd edition rulebook. The book claims fanatics should be mounted on the one inch base included in the book, but the template is actually closer to two inches, I think. (Just one of several errors and typos in the special troops and artillery section of that volume?)
I dunno. Anyway, I kind of like the look of 'em, and what's good enough for Rick's army is most likely good enough for mine...at some future point, I might decide to glue some twigs or pebbels to the templates to mark out some of the numbers on the clock...
A trio of fanatics help clear the way for the advance of Retchie Stinkfinga's Stikka gang...'til next time.... |
"WAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" |
Really nice mix of citadel, early marauder and iron claw fanatics and a night goblin 4th ed one for good measure. I must confess I base mine on a round slotta but the 1" base is correct, only it's a 1" radius not diameter.
ReplyDeleteThey look great.
Oh anbd a hint for Big Blackie, fanatics are expensive but you donb't always need to buy any to scare the hell out of your opponent with an agressively advancing goblin unit.
Thanks, Ernie! That clears things up a bit. I'm pretty happy with them. And yes, that's the really nice thing about fanatics if you are running an Orc and Goblin Army - they open the door to all kinds of sneaky tricks and psych-outs...
DeleteNice collection of sculpts there sir. They are a real gamble to take sometimes but they definitely represent all that is green skin in one single figure.
ReplyDeleteRandom, happy destruction. When I was younger, they bugged me a bit...I didn't like the idea that a giant ball and chain weapon couldn't possibly work that way in real life. The fanatics seemed to cartoony for me. I sometimes wished that fanatics could instead be suicide bombers with big casks of gunpowder strapped to their backs. Now I don't care, though. I'm looking forward to using them.
DeleteGreat stuff! And thanks for the back of WD 139 battle scene! I don't have that issue, but it would certainly be fun to try and recreate that battle sometime!? And hey, Mouse, I picked up the Ogre Miniature rule set for 5 bucks yesterday at an used book store! Was very happy. Perhaps might play it with Epic stuff.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! That's a fun game-and you certainly got a good deal on it! I think I paid $20 US for mine. And yeah, that's a great back cover isn't it? I wish we could have seen more of that battle - or just of Rick's gorgeous greenskin army!
Delete