Shikome

Malifaux Shikome - although they are technically spirits, I decided to paint them in a naturalistic way, rather than making them look ghostly. They also came with clear plastic flight stands, which I try to avoid using wherever possible.  I wish I had a better camera.

Shikome

Shikome

Shikome

Kirai Ankoku

Many game companies release a host of exciting new products at GenCon, and Wyrd is no exception!  As I was not able to attend, I need to extend a huge thank you to Stinkmunk (Malifaux blogger, gamer, painter, and all around enthusiast) for offering to "ninja" shop on my behalf!  One of the amazing sets picked up for me was the Kirai crew, which I am trying to get onto the tabletop as fast as possible!  So far I have finished Kirai herself, and Ikiryo, her soul - that literally leaves her body to wreak vengeance upon those who have done her wrong (principally the killers of her lover/fiance, who died while saving her from assassination by the Guild of Malifaux).

Kirai

Kirai

The new plastic model of Kirai has certainly grown on me during the painting process.  The original sculpt (see below) was very grim and evocative, while the new one with its "skipping" pose, doesn't quite sell the spirit of vengeance motif.  This is partially explained in another GenCon release - the newest Malifaux rulebook "Crossroads." In this book, Kirai meets Molly, another Resurrectionist master (see my earlier post).  So as Kirai makes friends and slowly comes to terms with her lover's death, she isn't quite so angry and depressed all the time.  She still has the powers that were unlocked through her traumatic experiences, but now she can move past her specific issues and begin helping others.

Kirai - original sculpt

I was never able to get my hands on the original sculpt of Kirai, but I will still keep my eyes out for it.  While I might somewhat prefer the old Kirai model, the remainder of the new Kirai set is absolutely amazing.  In particular, Kirai's projected soul, Ikiryo is a dramatic improvement over the old sculpt.  The new Ikiryo is massive and terrifying.  The long hair evokes the Japanese horror movie Ringu right at the moment when the spirit starts crawling out of the TV.  One of the scariest movies I've ever seen (as an aside, many people debate which movie is better - Ringu or its Hollywood remake The Ring.  In my opinion, the scariest is the version you see first).  I am sure this same fear is duplicated in players who have Ikiryo materialize beside one of their key models during a game!

The Resurrectionists' story in the Crossroads book describes how Kirai meets Molly, and shows them hanging out together.  While reading this narrative, I kept being reminded of a website that continually amuses me - They Fight Crime: Movie Idea Generator .

Molly is an undead newspaper reporter down on her luck. Kirai is a spirit of vengeance looking for love in all the wrong places. Together they fight crime!

Philip and the Nanny

As Malifaux Second Edition continues to roll out, there has been much speculation about what the new models will look like.  At the moment we are still waiting for a number of models from "wave 1" to be released - all of which have rules in the main M2E rulebook.  In the meantime, playtesting has completed for wave 2 models, and Wyrd Miniatures has posted official PDF cards (i.e. their rules) on their web site.

One of the most intriguing models coming in wave 2 is "Philip and the Nanny."  Philip is a severed (yet animated) head that historically was carried around by Molly (see her model in a previous post - Philip is there, in her arms).

In game terms, Philip is Molly's Henchman, and if his model release follows convention, he will appear in Molly's M2E box set.  Because no one has any idea when this will be - to date we have only seen beautiful artwork for a Molly resculpt, but nothing else for her crew's prospective new plastics  - I was beginning to get impatient.  I really wanted to add Philip into my games, and so I took it upon myself to attempt a scratch-built pram (as called for by his rules), and modification of a Nurse to create his Nanny.

I don't profess to be an especially good sculptor, but I think the result should tide me over until the official model comes out!

Philip and the Nanny (scratch built)

Philip and the Nanny (scratch built)

The pram is built from plasticard, wire, modelling putty (green stuff), a Warhammer skeleton head, and some wheels off an old model kit.  The framework around the pram was taken from a Warhammer Mortis Engine cage, bent around the pram.  The Nurse had her right arm re-posed, and then modified with putty.

Colette

These are the models that first got me started collecting Malifaux miniatures - particularly the Coryphee, esentially clockwork mannequins with giant shears for hands.  How could one go wrong with that?  Colette is a stage magician, making use of costumes, shell games, and fancy tricks to achieve her aims.  I assume that whatever new plastic models Wyrd Miniatures makes for the reissue of this crew will be amazing (and I will buy them), but I would really hate to give up using these ones...

Colette, Cassandra, Coryphee (X2)

Performers

Rasputina

My first Arcanist master for Malifaux is Rasputina.  Her crew consists of ice spirits and creatures inhabiting the cold wilderness outside the city of Malifaux.  She channels freezing magic through her crew as if they were a shattered mirror, bouncing her spells towards her targets.

Rasputina

Wendigo and ice pillars

Ice Gamin

Ice Golem

Molly

Molly

Since the release of Malifaux Second Edition, I have been steadily painting my collection of miniatures for this game, centring around the Resurrectionist and Arcanist factions.  Nicodem was the first of the Resurrectionists that I started working on (see below).  Nicodem is the resident undertaker and zombie master of Malifaux, who spends his games raising the dead and making them stronger and faster.  I could almost play him all the time (he is that fun), but then so are the other Resurrectionist masters - including Molly, depicted above.

Nicodem, Nurse, Mortimer, Punk Zombie (X2), Rotten Belle, Vulture

Molly also raises new undead models into play, although her tactics and methodology are sufficiently different from Nicodem to make her a worthy master in her own right.  My crew focusses on her theme of undead "horrors," and her ability to make them activate multiple times per turn.  I may delve into crew lists and tactics in future posts, but for now I just want to show off some recently painted models!

Molly, Nurse, Dead Doxy (X2), Rotten Belle