Thommy H:
I wanted to create a new thread for my Chaos Dwarfs because the old one kind of spanned a long period of collecting, which meant it wasn’t useful as a showcase. I avoid blogs, because I only photograph finished figures, but that one was starting to read like one anyway because there were images scattered across multiple pages. Also, I’ve come a long way in terms of creating my own rules and concepts for the Chaos Dwarfs. I no longer feel like the army needs a ‘hook’ for its story �?" it’s enough that they represent “my” Chaos Dwarfs: an army typical of the kind described in my army book. What’s more, I’m now both better at photo manipulation (and have superior software) and I can represent almost every option available in the Ravening Hordes list, meaning this army is probably as complete as it’s going to get (minus one model sitting on my painting table �?" but I’ll edit him in when he’s done).
So, without further ado, The Black Host of Lord Zhurduz:
-Special Characters-
These guys don’t really fit into the army anywhere, they’re just included for completion.
Zhatan the Black
Zhatan is the Dwarf Lord of Chaos from Avatars of War. In my fluff, he is the commander of the Immortals and the right hand of Ghorth the Cruel (actually, that bit’s official). Wielding the Hammer of Zharr, he is the most formidable of all Chaos Dwarfs. He has no place whatsoever in my army’s background, but whatever.
Astragoth, High Priest of Hashut
The ancient Astragoth was purchased from tjub at a very reasonable price. Again, he doesn’t fit with the army (especially alongside Zhatan), but I wanted the model and I gave him what I believe may be my best paint job ever. I’m very, very pleased with this model.
-Lords-
Lord Zhurduz
Lord Zhurduz is my general (I guess �?" I’ve never actually used him in a game or anything…) and rides Storm, a Great Taurus. He has a round base because that’s what I had to hand at the time �?" since he can’t join units, it doesn’t make much difference to anything.
Dharkhaz Blackheart
Lammasu for £10 off ebay �?" bargain. Dharkhaz is a Sorcerer Lord and he rides a Lammasu, obviously. Like Zhurduz, I’ve never used his guy in a game, but since I have everything the army can have, it hardly matters that he sucks. I’m just a completist.
-Heroes-
Zhakhan Flamewalker
This is a Sorcerer. Or Daemonsmith, if you’re that way inclined. I’ll stick with Sorcerer, but that’s just me.
Kthaark Daemonbane
Kthaark is a special character in my book, the mad Daemonsmith responsible for inflicting the Kolossus upon the world. The model is scratchbuilt from Chaos Warrior parts with a beard made from bits of a Goblin banner (the skulls with the beards).
Thraz Stonefist
My Hero (or Despot) with battle standard. As you can see, I can’t paint bulls.
Hzarkh
Another Hero/Despot. Nothing very special going on here. He was my default model for a Hero, but now I usually use the Zhatan figure. If I were ever to try to field this whole army, he’d be the first thing to go because I think I have too many characters.
Molech
Molech is my Bull Centaur Hero/Elder who won exactly nothing in the last Golden Hat, even though I was pretty pleased with him. I thought the blending on the sword would win some people over, but alas. He’s a slight conversion of the Impact! Miniatures bull centaur things.
Azhan Khan
Azhan Khan is a Hobgoblin Hero, and would have to count-as Gorduz Backstabber in a list written from my army book. I’m reliably informed that his wolf dates back to Battle Masters, of all things, but the rider is converted from bits of 40K Space Ork and Warhammer Goblin (the ears and nose).
-Core-
The Stormbothers
15 Warriors with great weapons, a Champion and a Standard.
The Stormbringers
19 Warriors with blunderbusses/Stormcallers. Some character (usually a Sorcerer) goes in here to make up the ranks.
The Stormtakers
20 Warriors with blunderbusses/Stormcallers. This unit used to be called “The Stormcallers”, but since I took that name for the whole unit type in my army book, that’s not going to fly any more.
Arrerz
Some worthless hobbos/Slaves with bows. These have never killed anything, to my knowledge.
Gitz
These would be Special in the Ravening Hordes list since they’re Sneaky Gitz, but in my army list they’re just lowly Slaves with poisoned attacks (and shields to represent their extra dagger). These were a nightmare to convert �?" if I ever want any more, I’ll use the Plague Monk method.
-Special-
Riderz
And these would be Core in Ravening Hordes (and in my army book if I included “Gorduz”) but they’re Special by default. Best unit in the game. Best unit in the game. Best. Unit. In. The. Game.
The Lightning Guard
Immortals (or Obsidian Guard, I suppose). Naturally, they’d have to just be Warriors with hand weapons in Ravening Hordes, but who even uses that old thing these days anyway, eh?
Death Rocket
Nothing fancy here. In my army book this would probably get used as a Lesser Daemonic Engine, although it looks about as Daemonic as my tortoise (actually, he looks pretty scary with the new red light we just bought for his vivarium…).
Bolt Throwers
Bolt Throwers/Mortal Engines. Couldn’t (and don’t) hit the side of a barn. I think they killed one Wardancer once.
-Rare-
The Thunderspawn
My Bull Centaurs. Ran away in their first battle and haven’t seen the top side of a gaming table since (and not just because we’re still playing on the floor). They have a standard bearer which isn’t painted yet because I got distracted by Dark Angels.
The Doomcannon
Is it an Earthshaker, is it a Hellcannon? No, it’s a Greater Daemonic Engine with appropriate upgrades! Or whatever. Never leave the Plain of Zharr without this bad boy, regardless of what rules I’m using to represent it.
Skullz
These would be a Special choice for Ravening Hordes, but in my army book they count as Dogs of War so we’ll follow that. Again, don’t see much action, but I had the models so they went in. They were speed painted but, you know what? They turned out okay.
So that’s yer lot. I definitely have 4,000 points worth of models here, but I don’t know if they’d technically, technically constitute a legal army if fielded together. Certainly not by Ravening Hordes (too few Core) but I could probably scrape by using my army book if I press-ganged the Ogres from my Warriors of Chaos. Not sure how they’d work in the Indy GT book �?" maybe I’ll give it a try sometime. I’ll leave it up to Xander to decide if I deserve a new shiny medal, but the important thing is that these guys are now all in one place for you to see.
i am loving that battle standard he just looks so cool and the art work of the bull is great, what colours have you used to do the for as it creates a great effect 