Werewolves and Wolves are the theme for this review of the 28mm scale figures from the Castle Ravenloft board-game for 4th edition Dungeons and Dragons.
Rather unusually, the werewolf is female - a decision I wholeheartedly applaud. She is a Level 5 Villain and activates at the start of each Villain Phase. Her stats are AC15 and 5HP.
The Werewolf's tactics are -
If the Werewolf is adjacent to a Hero, it regains 1HP and attacks an adjacent Hero with a frenzied Swipe.
If the Werewolf is within 2 tiles of a Hero, it regains 1HP, moves adjacent to the closest Hero and attacks that Hero with a Bite.
Otherwise, the Werewolf regains 1HP and moves 2 tiles toward the closest Hero.
A Swipe attacks gives a +7 bonus to hit and causes 3 Damage, as well as placing the Hero 2 tiles away from his or her tile.
A Bite attack also gives a +7 bonus to hit but only causes 1 Damage.
I painted my three Wolves differently, using colour schemes I found on Google Images.
The stats for a Wolf are AC14 and 1HP. Killing one earns a Hero 1 Experience Point.
The Wolf's tactics are -
If the Wolf is adjacent to a Hero, it attacks that Hero with a Bite.
If the Wolf is within 2 tiles of a Hero, it moves adjacent to the closest Hero and attacks that Hero with a Pounce.
Otherwise, the Wolf moves 2 tiles towards the closest Hero.
A Bite attack gives a +9 bonus to hit and causes 2 Damage.
A Pounce attack gives a +7 bonus to hit and causes 1 Damage as well as causing the Hero to be Slowed.
I have to admit to having mixed feelings about these sculpts. I'm delighted that the Werewolf is so obviously female but her pose does not seem natural. I dunno, it just looks off to me. It's almost like she's striking a pose. The Wolves are nicely sculpted but they have short, stocky legs, which is just wrong.
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Well firstly it simply hasn't been Sunday proper without your regular postings Bryan, so its an absolute delight to once again see an update on your wonderful blog. Secondly despite your reservations regarding these sculpts I think your paint-jobs have made them look very impressive minis indeed, and I love the different colour schemes you've used. I quite like the pose of the female werewolf as it looks as if she was darting down a corridor and then suddenly spotted someone down an adjoining path she was rushing past... doubtless curtains for whomever she has spied :-)
ReplyDeleteSimon, it is such a delight to be back posting again, so many thanks for your kind words. Checking wolves on Google images, I discovered they come in a wide assortment of colours. The easiest way to paint them is to do them all black, but that is so cliché. I wanted mine to look realistic. You've come up with an excellent rationale for her pose. :-)
DeleteSeconded, nice to have you back on post Vampi. I like them, despite your reservations :) I love the paint job you did on the middle wolf in particular!
ReplyDeleteThat's very much appreciated, Andy. I agree with you about which wolf has the best paint job.
DeleteGlad to hear your back home an well and normal service is resumed. The wolves look excellent I did a similar thing with my own German Shepherds to help disguise the same sculpt being used. The werewolves have some interesting stats Quite like that the swipe attacks have a knock back type of effect.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Simon. You're right about the Swipe attack. Plus, look how fast the werewolf and wolves are.
DeleteYou make these Ravenloft figures look awfully appealing.
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice compliment, Sean.
DeleteGood to have you back mate.
ReplyDeleteI need to get hold of some of those small werewolfes. They look pretty good.
It's good to be back, Johnny. Nice to hear from you again.
DeleteNice work, Bryan! I do see what you mean about the sculpts though - Simon's explanation of the werewolf pose is definitely better than what i thought, which was that she was fielding in a cricket game. And the paint jobs on the wolves are exceptional, although the middle one does now resemble an wolf/corgi hybrid. Obviously this is what roams the grounds of Buckingham Palace at night, ready to savage the ankles of trespassers...
ReplyDeleteRegards Jez
Cheers, Jez. Ha, ha! Werewolf cricketers - what a great idea! And I love your idea of a corgi/wolf cross-breed roaming Buck Palace.
DeleteLooking great! Today must have been a good day for Werewolves, as I just blogged about them as well.
ReplyDeleteCool! Werewolves FTW!
DeleteI like Blaxkleric`s description of the werewolf miniature`s `action` pose {{it looks as if she was darting down a corridor and then suddenly spotted someone down an adjoining path she was rushing past... doubtless curtains for whomever she has spied :-) }} Spot on description, and nicely thematic. I shall always think of that image in my head from now on when I look at this piece in my own games. I really like this piece... but then again, I`m a bit of a nut for werewolves (one of my all time favourite horrors - British made film "Dog Soldiers"). Never thought about this one being female... oooer. Nice one :)
ReplyDeleteThe Wolves, tricky little buggers these, to paint and bring alive. I have many many many MANY wolves in my fantasy collection (due to being heavily into Middle Earth wargaming and role playing... well, there`s an awful lot of Wargs/Giant Wolves in that world, so I pretty much had to accept, either learn to paint them pretty well, or suffer the consequences of having the table covered with unrealistic looking hounds haha). Your grey looks best Bryan, very much like a Grey Alaskan Malamute (I seen many of those and have been a passenger on a long two hundred mile sled run, pulled by those things... truly amazing experience). The middle two tone brown is attractive, is painted like a Dakoto alpha, without the dark paw patches. The one on the right is a fantasy creation of course (maybe a still undiscovered breed hehe) but loos suitably wolfish, and more the style people imagine wolves to look like. Course they don't, but then again, in fantasy, who's to say what a wolf looks like.
Many thanks, Steve. You're totally right about Simon's comments about the female werewolf's pose. He summed her up perfectly. As for her being female, note the long flowing head of hair, but more importantly, she has boobs. Not as pronounced as some female werewolves I could mention (cough, SLAP miniatures, cough!) but they're there.
DeleteSo, you're a fan of "Dog Soldiers?" Me too! I bloody well LOVE that film!
Wow, you're very knowledgeable when it comes to identifying wolf breeds. I agree that the dark brown wolf is pure fantasy but I couldn't bring myself to painting it black, which is how I associate Wargs. As you rightly say, "in fantasy, who's to say what a wolf looks like?"
Oooo yea, I totally missed the boobs.... and the long hair and... okay, I was blind that day haha.
DeleteDog Soldiers, yeeeey!!!! you like it too. Two of the best screen actor lines ever delivered come from that film: "Come and `ave a go if you think you`re hard enough" and "Fetch" hahaha
Spot on, Steve, with your two memorable quotes from Dog Soldiers. I'm going to watch this film again tomorrow just to remind myself how great it is!
DeleteI like the variety of colours. They look good.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Clint.
DeleteGreat to see you back in the saddle Bryan!
ReplyDeleteNice work on the wolves. The female werewolf looks good too Dude!
"A decision I heartily applaud" lets face facts Bryan, you just want tits on everything!
It's awesome to be back, Bob. What can I say? I'm a boob man, so of course I want tits on everything! It's no use denying it, lol!
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