Automatic for the People

These past couple of weeks I've been fighting with ice, a cough, printers and batteries, but not necessarily in that order. Despite that I've got some lovely ghūl graphics for you all to gawp at!

Automatic for the People... or Not?

Something I've learned (or, should I say, re-learned) in the past few years of doing digital files for the people is that said people can be really stuffy about things, for no real reason that I can see. An example of this is the difference between the model kit world (which doesn't care if the supports are still on the model when they get it) and the miniature world (which vehemently does care). But I digress: I'm talking mainly about the auto-supporting of miniature parts here. I read a post a while back that said, rather haughtily, that all Mierce's files are "auto-supported", and that this was a bad thing, thereby telling my novice supporting brain that everybody didn't like auto-supported files, so I shouldn't auto-support.

Over time I've learned that the only things that really matter when supporting files is, first, parting the miniature correctly (which a lot of digital manufacturers get completely wrong), and second, the orientation of the object (which actually drives the parting anyway). The actual supports work themselves out after that, it's just time-consuming to do it, so I turned to auto-supporting. After a few tests I found that auto-supporting in Lychee works pretty much 95% of the time. There's always the odd ‘island’ it misses, and sometimes it over-supports (putting supports where they are not necessary), but in general - for our printer / material set up - it's absolutely fine.

So I don't really get the stuffiness about auto-supporting. Look, what works for us may not work for you guys with your printer set ups, so make sure you bear that in mind, but why shouldn't we use all the tools available to us, if they work? And if our files don't work for you because of your setup, these days AI can tell you everything you need to know in terms of how to support your files.

Remember, though: the trick is in the orientation of the object. Everything else is relatively easy. Oh, and make sure you hollow big parts after you've done the supports. Otherwise it will auto-support the inside too!

February's Depravity

So, let's have a sneak peek of February's bloody SUPERB battle host for the Jutes, the Depraved of Hyrne, featuring twenty-two ALL-NEW miniatures sculpted by the equally bloody superb Rafael Callegari. As always, he's taken some difficult concepts and absolutely nailed them, especially the gryreghūlas...!

Now, because of Christmas and the workload for this month - you've got a fair bit of bang for your buck this time! - Rafael hasn't quite finished everything; the nihtbats need sculpting, as does the ghūlhag (with a pinup version). What's a ghūlhag, you ask? Well, it's not an archipelago, that's for sure. Read on...

Loreful

I gave you some lore for these guys in my last blog, but I may as well repeat it here, hey? There's a bit more though, so it's worth reading again...

Leading the ghūlas are the ghūl thains; somewhat better equipped to deal with their existence than their subjects, these degenerates were perhaps commanders in their past lives and retain some of their training. They often use better equipment such as helmets, spears and shields.

The ghūlas are drinkers of beetle pupae gloop, in a bold attempt to live beyond death; denied the honour of joining the ranks of the undead by their lords, perhaps because of their barbarity or criminality in life, these depraved creatures took matters into their own hands and - while successful in a way - they have become bitter and twisted, eaters of man- and beetle-flesh alike, their hands elongated and clawed to rip flesh apart easily.

They do retain most of their former intelligence - some even bring spear and shield to battle, and wear rough mail - and actively attempt to recruit others to join their ranks in degeneracy, living in caves, howes and other abandoned places. While abhorrent to the men and women of Cant and Wiht, the ghūlas are tolerated (as long as they do not roam from their enclaves) and actively used in Jute armies due to their sheer ferocity. For their part, the ghūlas don't really care about much except getting more flesh...

The gryreghūlas, much larger than the ghūlas (they are on 40mm bases), are a different matter entirely. Relatively rare, these guys are malformed and hard to kill, their skin morphing into the chitin of the beetles they devour; around seven to eight feet tall, sporting all manner of chitinous growth around their bodies, they are incredibly ferocious and are great shock troops in any Jute army.

Bats are bats are bats, of course; the nihtbats are giant versions that live in the natural caverns and coves of the southern coast, where they naturally have contact with the ghūlas. Standing (flying?) on 80mm bases and useful divers and swoopers, get them up in the air and slamming into your enemies!

...and finally: the pin up for February will be Tētwic the ghūlhag! These disgusting ladies are sorcerers, nasty beings full of hate for the humans and, well, pretty much everything else. Their sorcery is evolved around the eating of man-flesh and beetle pupae, so she's perfect to add a little something to your Jute ghūl host. She will come in two versions; bald and covered up; naked and with hair.

The Coming Months

I have to say, I've really missed giving you all cool new miniatures - and their lore! - each month. It's been refreshing to see new sculpts and work hard on their graphics - especially as I can really see the end of the sculpt backlog now. Just a few months left to go, although I've realised I'd totally forgotten the rogue-drunes! So I've adjusted the schedule a bit for after the ghūlas...

Remaining backlog stuff:

• March - Fomoraic Gabrax Warchief, Gabrax and Gabrox
• April - Ysian Grigg, Shadow-Drunes/Rogue-Drunes and Brute-Beasts
• May - Anglecynn Warchief, Geoguth and Wereofor
• June - Vras Warchief, Bow-Vras and Rend-Vras

We'll have completed the sculpting backlog by June (if not the production backlog), and then we'll be doing some completely new stuff each month!

• July - Byzantii Demilegionarii
• August - Norse Halftrolls
• September - Khthones Lískar
• October - Brythoniaid Rhyfelwr
• November - Érainn Fen Beast
• December - Infernii Fiend
• January - Fomoraic Raider

(again, note that I do reserve the right to change the above if I have a fit of inspiration for something else).

Physical Production

I guess many of you have realised I haven't released the physical versions of the last few battle hosts yet; I don't intend to, really, until I can get the physical backlog down. I am getting there (I know I always say that); the last couple of weeks have been an ograx of Baalor fest, with some brutal beasts in between, but things are happening. The Grey Wulf recent webstore order backlog is 99% done, so if you do make orders for anything in Grey Wulf it's done pretty quickly at the moment.

Once things settle down on the backlog front I may well do some kind of project or offer that gives you the above battle hosts, but ideally I'd like to generate stock for them first. I am doing that too - I've got lots of beasts in stock, as well as a smattering of warchiefs - when schedules allow.

Anyway: when it says "in stock" underneath an item, it really is in stock.

War Towers and Warlords

Speaking of projects; the 100 Warlords is almost there. I've had to rework some of the warlords because of the cold weather, change settings etc., but the last few should be sent in the next couple of weeks. I've also had to change a few sculpts - Kraan in particular! - because of his bloody dangly hair. Stupid idea. Now his dangly hair is on his body part, and not on his head! If you would like the non-dangly hair version, get in touch and let me know, I'll send one with your next order.

So, I haven't yet sorted the War Towers project; I don't want to until the 100 Warlords is complete, but it will happen at some point this year.

That's all for now, fellow Miercenaries; I'm off to give a home to a retired racing greyhound called Ari.

Watch out for the ghūlas files next week!