Monthly Archives: May 2023

WizKids WZK90068 D&D Nolzurs Marvelous Miniatures Grick and Grick Alpha (D&D Monster Manual 86) (Monster MAYhem ’23)

by

12

WizKids WZK90068 Dungeons and Dragons D&D Nolzurs Marvelous Miniatures Grick and Grick Alpha Miniatures

Another Monster MAYhem post today – I’ve now gotten to the point of having quite a few models to post up, and since I like to keep my posts more individual to a type or set becasue it makes it much easier for me to find and refernce models in the future, we’re going to have a little run of daily posts rather than every two days so these May models don’t run into the middle of June.

WizKids WZK90068 Dungeons and Dragons D&D Nolzurs Marvelous Miniatures Grick and Grick Alpha Miniatures

Don’t speak to me or my son ever again!

So first up, we have a Grick. Well, a pair of Gricks. A couple of right Gricks. Specifically, a Grick and Grick Alpha, which I presume is the bigger one. I’m not sure what the difference is in D&D terms, but I have to presume the Alpha is simply the “boss monster” version of the species.

WizKids WZK90068 Dungeons and Dragons D&D Nolzurs Marvelous Miniatures Grick and Grick Alpha Miniatures

Pretty simple miniatures. I went with more or less the official colouration, but decided to do a little experiement, After the base coat and wash part, instead of drybrushing highlights I instead used a bit of foam and tweezers to use the “foam weathering” technique on the hide to try and create a naturalistic looking, uneven pattern to the creatures’ colouration.

WizKids WZK90068 Dungeons and Dragons D&D Nolzurs Marvelous Miniatures Grick and Grick Alpha Miniatures

As I mentioned with the Chaos Toad Savage in yesterday’s post, I do like using low-importance models like these as experimentation, and I’m pretty happy with how the “sponge weathering” technique worked out for weathered looking creature hide while also being pretty quick and easy. I’ll definitely be pulling this technique out again in future.

WizKids WZK90068 Dungeons and Dragons D&D Nolzurs Marvelous Miniatures Grick and Grick Alpha Miniatures

This pair of Grick (Gricks?) also work as my next submissions for the Monster MayHem ’23 painting challenge. There should be a few more of these beasts coming in the next week or two…

WizKids WZK90068 Dungeons and Dragons D&D Nolzurs Marvelous Miniatures Grick and Grick Alpha Miniatures, Reaper Miniatures 50153 Berkeley Zombie Survivor

Berkeley once again provides us with a scale shot as she adds to the no doubt endless collection of trophies mounted on her walls!

Reaper Bones 44098: Chaos Toad Savage (D&D Monster Manual 85: Not-Slaad) (Monster MAYhem ’23)

by

22

Reaper Bones 44098: Chaos Toad Savage (D&D Monster Manual 84: Not-Slaad)

What the actual Frog is this thing? Well, aside from being my first submission for the Monster MayHem ’23 painting challenge, it’s something called a Chaos Toad Savage. In response, you might say something like this:

Firstly, dumbass. I can read. I saw that name up top in the header of the post.

Secondly. That doesn’t exactly explain what the hell a “Chaos Toad Savage” really is. Or does. Or why. Where it fits in. Or to what. Capiche?

Reaper Bones 44098: Chaos Toad Savage (D&D Monster Manual 84: Not-Slaad)

Well, I mean.. it’s a Reaper model, innit? We all know that Reaper produces several genres of models – Sci-Fi/Chronopia, Modern, Licenced Pathfinder Fantasy, “Generic” Fantasy – leaning hard into “Not-D&D” models, and then batshit random models.

Reaper Bones 44098: Chaos Toad Savage (D&D Monster Manual 84: Not-Slaad)

I figure that this thing fits into one of the last two of those categories. Given it’s rather large size, I don’t feel like it’s a “Were-Toad”, and I can’t seem to find something like a “Dire Toad” in D&D. If any of the more D&D-knowledgable readers out there recognise what this thing is supposed to be, please speak up and I’ll adjust the post! 🙂

edit – thanks to reader Xander for pointing out that the model is most likely a “Slaad” proxy – which is kinda embarassing for me – not because I know much about D&D but because I have a couple of unpainted Slaad models here, one of which is even next to the painting desk. Thanks again, Xander! 🙂

Reaper Bones 44098: Chaos Toad Savage (D&D Monster Manual 84: Not-Slaad)

As far as the painting, this model was originally assembled, based and spray-primed over a year ago for this very challenge, though the 2022 edition. So a few days ago I decided to get rid of the thing by painting it out of the plastic storage tub and off the desk. I took a look at some pics of toads and settled on the kind of mottled look. Not bad for a first attempt at something like that, though I can see where I’d do some of it differently next time.

Reaper Bones 44098: Chaos Toad Savage (D&D Monster Manual 84: Not-Slaad), Reaper Miniatures 50153 Berkeley Zombie Survivor

Which is really the biggest use (for me) of these random models – low-stress experimentation of new ideas and techniques and patterns. What will I actually use this thing for? Uh… the best thing I can think of is as “something Nurgle” in either Sigmar or 40k.