The theme for this Artisan’s Contest is to create up to 3 pieces of magic counters for Chaos Dwarfs, which somehow relates to the subject “The Dark Sorcery Unleashed” (which could be a literal or abstract interpretation of the concept). These could be anything from spell counters, Storm of Magic frog markers, miscast markers to Sorcerer’s Curse counters. Submissions of spell counters must be for spells available to Chaos Dwarf wizards in Forgeworld’s Legion of Azgorh army list.
This contest is relatively unrestricted in terms of scope - if you think a magic counter is appropriate for Chaos Dwarfs, then it’s most likely suitable. Any uncertainties you may have about fulfilling the criteria can be mediated before the deadline with Admiral via PM.
Your pieces of magic counters must be painted 3D models, meaning no cardboard or stone counters may be submitted. The magic counters may be of any size and have any kind of base, though bear in mind it should be practically useful during games. Bigger does not equal better! Whether you kitbash or sculpt your magic counters is up to you as a participant, as is the choice of whether or not to identify your markers with text descriptions (on their bases perhaps, or maybe on a small sign or spell card beside them) with their particular spells. It is also up to you whether or not to include miniatures like burning enemies, Daemon familiars or acolytes as parts of your magic counters (though they must be on the same base as the counter they’re part of). Let your imagination run wild!
Deadline
The deadline for the submission of entries is the 14th of July 2014 at 11:59pm EST.
Only enter if you are happy with the rules as they are stated:
Rules of the Competition
Each member may only enter once.
Each member may submit up to three (3) magic counters, all of which must be in the same submission PM and the same photos.
Create pieces of magic counters, with “The Dark Sorcery Unleashed” as your inspiration. The maximum and minimum dimensions of the counters are unrestricted. Basing is unrestricted, though each counter must be confined to one base and not spread over several.
Submissions should only include pictures of the magic counters, not of other miniatures or scenery.
You may not submit pictures of counters that have been entered into other online competitions.
Don’t post your entries in the forum before Artisan’s Contest XV is over.
How to Enter?
Submit your entry by sending a PM to Staff (a special user that all Staff have access to) with four photos of your entry. All of your magic counters should feature together in each of the photos. Please do not send an e-mail to any of the admin or staff accounts as this is a sure fire way to have your entry overlooked.
Please note that your entry will benefit if the photos are all clearly composed, since voters will base their judgement upon what they can see in the pictures on their computer screens.
How will this be judged?
By the middle of July we will post all entries to a new entries thread where members can vote.
There will be Gold, Silver and Bronze Artisan’s medals.
Prize
The winner of the contest will have 1 unpainted flayed enemy of the Chaos Dwarfs converted by Admiral after the contest. It will be based on a 20x40 or 25x50 base, and posted on his expense to the winner’s address. The base size of the “flayman” is the winner’s choice, as is the enemy’s race in question, though it may not be larger than an Orc, Gor or Saurus. Also be careful with your choice, since not every man-sized creature will make a good-looking “flayman”! The winner will be contacted about the prize via PM after Artisan’s Contest XV is over.
Should you wish to donate a prize to the contest, please PM Admiral about it and he’ll sort it out with you and the Staff.
Okay. This is a cool theme and a great idea. Will see some inspirational stuff in this contest.
Now: I think a month is too short a time period.
Entering a competition (with high standard like CDOs) requires some planning, brainstorming and concept development.
If one has to buy stuff off the internet for the project, two weeks shipping is realistic, that only leaves two weeks for converting, building and painting.
I think deadline should be 1st of august.
Even though that’ll leave some participants waiting for a long time, since they’ll be finished early.
Okay. This is a cool theme and a great idea. Will see some inspirational stuff in this contest.
Now: I think a month is too short a time period.
Entering a competition (with high standard like CDOs) requires some planning, brainstorming and concept development.
If one has to buy stuff off the internet for the project, two weeks shipping is realistic, that only leaves two weeks for converting, building and painting.
I think deadline should be 1st of august.
Even though that’ll leave some participants waiting for a long time, since they’ll be finished early.
Please consider.
Bloodbeard
Of course. The deadline is a bit flexible for both members’ wishes and my own schedule. If I get unexpectedly busy around the deadline it might get prolonged a bit since we won’t be able to start on the picture edit at once in any case.
How many would like a longer deadline? How long?
I’d rather not stretch it past the 15th of July in order to get at least two of the three planned contests off the ground during the summer. Having the 15th of July as deadline gives six weeks in total, and probably four for modelling and painting if Internet orders are involved. Then there’ll be perhaps a week or more work on photo editting before the voting thread is up.
I have no idea how such a magic counter could look like!
Zanko
My web searches didn’t turn up any results at all that could help you and others, so to give food for brainstorming here’re a few examples from Lore of Fire of what they could be like. A pity Firewall is no longer in the book, because that spell have had some nice markers for it popping up on tournaments:
Fulminating Flame Cage could be simply a big cage made of wires with green stuff flames. There are much more advanced possibilities for that one, of course!
Fireball could be something like a bull’s head fireball hitting an enemy, or something else entirely.
Flaming Sword of Rhuin could be just a fiery weapon lying flat on a base or a pedestal, standing on its own, sticking out from an enemy or maybe being carried by an acolyte or mini-K’daai familiar.
Almost anything is possible.
Looking through the lists of spells in the available lores (not least Lore of Hashut) could be a good starting point. For non-spells one could make a toad with a tiny ringlet beard and a hat, or something else entirely. The field is open.
How big should be these markers and / or should they be placed on an appropriate base (square or round)?
:hashut
Zanko
That's entirely up to you. Their base could just be the "footprint" of the marker like the case often is with buildings when it comes to terrain (though markers with models in them could benefit from having clearer bases), they could be plasticard or cardboard or penny bases or they could be slottabases of any size and shape.
Or even pedestals of some kind to further mark them as being not models and not terrain in the battle.
Base them however you like. Make them as big or as small as you think is appropriate. :cheers
Edit: A second search run came up with these counters links for inspiration:
Just ordered some miniatures for the project. I won’t have time to convert and model the biggest stuff this time around, but I’ll make it work - yes I will.
This is a cool theme and a great idea. Will see some inspirational stuff in this contest.
Bloodbeard
Agreed! I can't wait to see what people come up with, this is gonna be really good :)
I do have a question about submission photos though, and my apologies if I'm missing something obvious:
You said "All of your magic counters should feature in each of the photos"...does this mean that if a person submits three counters, that all three counters have to appear together in each single photo?
@Herby: Good, I missed the frogs! And good luck! A Vampire flayman should be possible with some tricks to differentiate it from ordinary humans, like an evil snarl in the face, a heart on the pole, two sharp teeth on the string and a hole in the chest area of skin.
@Abecedar: You’re probably not alone in that regard. Good luck!
@Bloodbeard: Good luck! We’ll push the deadline to 7/7 for a start and see if that’s enough. If that’s insufficient for a lot of people they’ll just have to shout.
@Bolg: Be a completionist, go get some more. Good luck!
@Fuggit Khan: Yes, the wording have been clarified. The reason for this is to get as many good looks from different angles as possible of all the markers in the limited amount of pictures. Will you enter the contest?
Yep! This is too good of a theme to pass up, I'm really looking forward to seeing what people will create, and I want to join in the fun :cheers
I have a couple of idea's that may possibly work...I already ordered some bits and more green stuff.
And thank you Admiral for clarifying my earlier question, much appreciated
:hat off
@Yodrin: Family comes first. Maybe you’ll have time when the next contest comes around?
@Bloodbeard: Just shout when we’re approaching deadline, if it seem too short. Don’t hesitate, we’re flexible about it! I’m trying to fit as many contests as possible into the summer months for my own schedule’s sake, but there won’t be any major troubles in adapting to the schedules of others. Anything else would be odd for the summer, since it’s a time for family and holidays.
