Still on the D&D-ish train today, and we have a Vampire model from Reaper that manages to straddle both the “classic gothic” and the “fantasy armoured” vampire tropes amazingly well in my opinion. Stefan Von Kruger here is very nicely and finely detailed, and only took me 10 or 15 years to get finished. He was moved onto a 32mm base a couple of years ago, but still took some time to get to the point where I was able to make myself complete the model, ultimately using the Tray to force the issue.
For the colour scheme, I stuck with pretty bog-standard Vampire tones, whichg also happen to fit in with my Vampire Counts-themed Undead/Kings of War army. I also added some blood spatter, which I don’t do all that often, but I felt like it fit here, as Stefan here has a pretty ferocious pose – so a bit for his clothing and face, a touch on his shield, and some streaking on his blade. It’s a subtle look on his red shield and tabard, but that suits me quite nicely to be quite honest. …anbd just a few dots to mar his otherwise perfectly regal face.
The embossed detail on his shield is a nice touch, with a little Easter Egg there that you may not notice at first. This model also serves as a good example of why something like the poor old weedy Count Strahd model is barely likely to get a look in, even if we’re playing the actual D&D game that Strahd comes from. Why would you use that, when something like this is available?
Azazel's Bitz Box. 
Although it is a good look, I am a bit tired of the ribbed red armour, Vlad the Impaler vampire look that I think first appeared in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”
LikeLiked by 2 people
… in 1992. I prefer the Hammer, clasdic Von Carstein, night-at-the-opera vibe.
This model straddles that nicely, as you say.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m not over the ribbed look personally, but that’s probably because I’ve painted so few vampires to date! 😉
This guy does work well with a foot in both camps, so to speak. To me he has the look of a classic vampire who has armoured up for a special occasion rather than dressing like Mephiston as his everyday wear..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely done mate – had to look at the shield for a second or two to spot it!!
LikeLiked by 4 people
It’s a nice little touch, and took me awhile before I saw it at first. I love subtle details like that. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Looks great! It’s rare (I think) to see brighter colours on vampire minis, it’s usually all dark and gothy. The look works very nicely.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Yeah, just the addition of a relatively small amount of yellow on his trim and the shield emblem (as opposed to white) brings him out a lot. Really pops on the table from normal gaming eye distance as well, I noticed when I was photographing him.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Perfect for my Mordheim Campaign, I need a new vampire for my warband.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I made up my Mordheim undead from various GW minis. My vampire was a blood dragon. We played a campaign fir about a year and his starting stats never changed, but he had every perk possible.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Sadly, Mordhaim was a game I picked up but never got to play. My regular 40k/WarZone/Blood Bowl/Necromunda group of the time just didn’t have enough interest, which I felt was a real shame.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I much preferred Mordheim to Necromunda. I played both for years. But Mordheim games are the ones I remember.
LikeLiked by 3 people
To be fair, I think a lot of it comes from the people you’re playing with. Necro also felt more flexible due to ranged weapons while Mordheim (from reading the rules, anyway) seemed limited by the whole WHFB “charge range” thing, where Skaven had a HUGE advantage while Dwarves were in turn disadvantaged towards everyone, etc…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, he’d work perfectly for something like Mordheim. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looking great mate. Sorry can only see a six legged wolf on the shield. I am obviously missing something.
LikeLiked by 4 people
That wolf must be having a bit of a dire time! 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s a stunning vampire model. Like you said it captures the perfect balance between classic and fantasy. I might have a look to see if i can grab one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cheers mate – depending on where you live it should be pretty easily gotten hold of.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great work on the vampire, as you say has a mix of styles to it, the shield is fun and adds a subtle thought provoker
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks Dave – it’s a nice model and I’m happy that I’ve now completed it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very nice! 🙂 I spent ages looking for some tiny detail I might have missed on the shield and then had a “Doh” moment!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yeah, you really have to respect that sort of subtlety. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
He looks great and I couldn’t agree more that this guy is world class compared to the previous vampire. I like the color scheme you chose for him and the blood on his sword was a nice touch too. I’m definitely of the opinion that, less is more when it comes to blood but there is something appropriate about seeing a bit on a vampire’s sword! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah, I rarely do much with the blood effects, but he has such a ferocious look to him in this pose that I felt it was appropriate. Having said that, I’ve had the spatter going again as I finished off another model just today…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nice lirtle model that- hasa foot in each camp as you say.
Cheers,
Pete.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cheers Pete – certainly can’t make any complaints about this sculpt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love a good vampire! Love what you did with this one especially the red.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Mark. I was worried about him having too much red, but I did really want to keep the palette more restricted – though we do still have a touch of green and turquiouse in there!
LikeLike
You would not believe how long I spent looking at that shield before I spotted it (rather worrying given that I essentially look at animals for a living). Great work on this one and a really nice miniature as well; one part regal, one part blood-mad killer – perfect vampire really!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do get it – I never noticed until I was actually adding the yellow to the shield. I’d had the model for years and even shaded around the wolf with darker red without noticing a single thing was amiss! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person