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Post by labrat on Feb 23, 2013 9:41:14 GMT -9
I've been browsing around the forum for the last few days trying to catch up a bit on the goings on. Not an easy thing to do because of how vast it all is. New talent all over the place, and some great innovations. I've had a long enough vacation and it's time to get back into gear. I'm picking up where I left off. I have a lot of model sets in the works and I'm starting with my unfinished dwarf sets. The cannon is done. I think Nik is just working on the instructions for the release. I think all my pics of the build are on his camera too, so I can't post one right now, but it will be released soon for you anyways. The set I'm currently working on is the Dwarf Command. I have drawings for a commander, and musician. I did one for the Standard bearer, but I need to redesign it. It doesn't quite work right with my banners. Here's a preview of the Dwarf Commander. What I need is, lots of ideas for dwarf banner designs. So far I have 3 designs. I'd like to do 3 more for the set, but creativity is sometimes my weakness. Any suggestions are welcome. I'd like them to be original. If I use your design I'll let you have this set for free when it's done. Here are the designs I have made so far. The idea is that the banner would be for a particular dwarf clan. For example, the one on the left would be for The Dwarf King, the one in the center for the Flaming Forge Clan, and the one on the right, for the Greatbeard Clan. Those were my ideas as I designed them. Other things that might work, are things to do with mining, battle, or slayers of orcs or something along those lines. I'm not going to wait around though, so if I don't see anything come in, I'll plug ahead on my own. THanks guys. It's good to be back.
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Post by Parduz on Feb 23, 2013 10:06:25 GMT -9
Shapes could be square/rectangular (roman like). About the symbol, you could have a mountain, any weapon/tool you can think.
Depending on the setting, also some rare stones (like a diamonf or a ruby) or coins could be something a dwarf could want in the banner.
Bersekers, or some type f army could also have an image of the preferred enemy slayered.
An original thing could be a two-piece banner, on in front of the other: the one in the back could be a stylized dwarf face (perhaps with an helm to make it more anonymous) and the front piece the beard and the moustaches, or perhaps just the latter. Phisically mounted with a space between the two parts.
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Post by stevelortz on Feb 23, 2013 10:12:36 GMT -9
I used to have a clan of dwarves whose main color was red. They were called the Red Ravens (or Crimson Corvus). Their banner was red, with a black crow in them middle of it.
Hve fun! Steve
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 23, 2013 14:30:45 GMT -9
Maybe mountain animals, cougars and rams? Also typical magical beasts. Oh and someone might adopt one of those elephant things that Hanibal guy drove past that one time.
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Post by Reivaj on Feb 23, 2013 14:54:05 GMT -9
That dwarf is awesome. Great work Labrat!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2013 16:43:12 GMT -9
Some mountain shape or mountain (underground?) stronghold gates perhaps (with dwarven runes)?
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Post by labrat on Feb 24, 2013 18:47:55 GMT -9
These are all great suggestions. I have to admit, I was hoping someone would bust out the drawing pad and draw some for me. That's ok, I'll see what I can do. Parduz, thanks as always. I will do some square rectangular banners. I can't quite picture how I would make a banner with separated pieces, both suspended, but it is a cool idea. Maybe if you could sketch out an example for me that would help. stevelortz, I'm having trouble associating dwarves with ravens (or any other bird for that matter) since they are so grounded. Not that I don't think it would be a cool banner, just a matter of my own personal taste. cowboyleland, I like the idea of a rams head, or maybe a bear. I'm thinking ram skull. thanks mesper, simple and dwarfy. I think I can work with that. Also my wife wants me to do a foamy mug being held aloft by ha hairy dwarf arm. I think what I will do is about 6 banners or so with layered color options for the background. I'm toying with the idea of doing the emblems separate to make them ultimately customizable, but that would be a lot of complex cutting out, so I probably won't go that route. People will just be stuck with a few options, and if they want something else they'll have to make their own (not too hard to do) or wait till I come out with a bonus banner set. Here are some sketches: Which ones are your favorites? Which ones are crappy? Feedback welcome.
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Post by hackbarth on Feb 25, 2013 4:59:28 GMT -9
The average dwarf even knows how a mountain looks like? I say, from the outside?
But maybe a more stylized mountain would be fitting, something like three joined "^" shapes. With the gate on center.
I think the icon of dwarfhood, for a dwarf, at least, would be his tools: Hammers, Picks, Axes. Jewels too. The symbol of domain over the lonely mountain in The Hobbit was the Arken Stone.
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Post by kiladecus on Feb 25, 2013 5:42:25 GMT -9
Holy crap, Labrat! If that is what you do when you return from a break, take another one! That is freaking GORGEOUS!
I can't wait for these! Brilliant work, as always! ;D
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 25, 2013 8:44:40 GMT -9
Just my two cents here, but things are tending a bit more representational here than most heraldry I can think of. For example the Scottish lion is red, standing on it's hind legs and traditionaly it has a forked tail. In the carvings of the Northwest Coast of North America it is hard to tell if you are looking at unless you know that the whale always has a blow hole and Thunderbird has a curl on top of his head. The Japanese often favour swirling geometric forms.
The original theory behind heraldric banners is that you could identify people from a distance, which is why there is an emphasis on high contrast colours. (again the Red lion is on a gold field) and contrasting colours are aranged according to standardized rules (quartered, band at the top, etc)
Of course, Dwarves should have their own ideas about what is the "right way" to make a banner, but the banner needs to fullfill its function (whatever that is in dwarven society) and all the banners in one society aught to follow the same rules.
Just something to think about as you combine and refine the excellent sketches
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Post by labrat on Feb 26, 2013 4:25:43 GMT -9
Thanks for the feedback guys! hackbarth, I think you are right. I will try that. I've been sketching around with it. I think it is looking better. More symbolic and bold that way. David, thanks man. I think you overestimate me. I do ok until I get stuck, which happens all the time. But I appreciate your compliments. @cl, I see your point. I guess, I'm pretty free range when it comes to banners. I don't really follow any rules, I just slap down what looks good to me. I do try to think about a dwarf clan or regiment, and try to think about what they might want to put on their banner that would represent what they are all about, but other than that I don't really follow any guidelines. I guess something that might help is if I did almost like what Hackbarth suggested, and make things more symbolicly representational, and less illustrative. That might help a bit. Thanks for your comments. I worked on some sketches for another dwarf commander, musician, and standard bearer this morning. I need to refine the sketches a bit and make sure they fit in with the other dwarves I've been doing. Stay tuned. Making steady progress.
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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Feb 28, 2013 11:18:31 GMT -9
Perhaps a long grey banner that is knotted at the bottom to look like a beard? Maybe it's original shape was a long triangle with a simple knot, or it was two or three triangular points that were braided together?
I have a picture in my head of a subtle Chuck Norris joke.... Make the banner be the beard idea, and have a symbol of a fist on it.
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 28, 2013 14:49:08 GMT -9
Someone once said "If you can think of it, it is on the internet" but I just googled for images of "knotted banner" and "braided banner" an got NOTHING! A truely original idea. It should definitely be followed up.
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Post by labrat on Mar 2, 2013 8:27:54 GMT -9
Perhaps a long grey banner that is knotted at the bottom to look like a beard? Maybe it's original shape was a long triangle with a simple knot, or it was two or three triangular points that were braided together? I have a picture in my head of a subtle Chuck Norris joke.... Make the banner be the beard idea, and have a symbol of a fist on it. That really is a cool idea. I'll play around with it. I think it would look awesome if I could make it work. I'm not sure how well the paper will braid, but I'll give it a try, or I could paint it to make it look like it's braided. Either way I still think it could look really cool. Thanks man!
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 3, 2013 13:20:24 GMT -9
Pull a "Mesper" and offer BOTH! You can never really have too much variety when it comes to having your figures be customizable. Don't believe me? Then way did you do your Orcs and Goblins in layers? ;D
Just my two cents worth (and being a person that can't do layers and doesn't do many variety options), I, personally, prefer sets that DO offer those.
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Post by labrat on Mar 3, 2013 17:14:37 GMT -9
Here's what trouble I've been up to the last couple of days. The Command group needed some more commanders. You can't sell a set with just one commander, so I designed a couple more. I wouldn't want to run into these three on the battlefield. I think they would make great figs for rpg characters as well.
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Post by highlandpiper on Mar 3, 2013 22:36:26 GMT -9
You should make a hero with a keg barrel for a hammer! Or ball (keg) and chain! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2013 19:51:54 GMT -9
You should make a hero with a keg barrel for a hammer! Or ball (keg) and chain! ;D Hehe... sorry, couldn't resist... /taken from free mini fun-set for CW forums members/ ;D
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Post by labrat on Mar 22, 2013 9:39:01 GMT -9
Been pluggin' along slow but steady. All of the line work is finally done for all the figures including the backs. Now I just have to do the coloring. I'm gonna push this weekend to see how much I can get done. Once that's done I just have to whip up a few more banners from my sketches and the ideas that were contributed, and then we should have a pretty awesome set for you. This has been a really fun set to work on. The only problem is that everyone has different ideas about what style of dwarves they like. I wish I could please everyone, but I just have to go with what they feel like to me. That's how I get the best inspiration. Sneak peak at a dwarf Rune Priest that I decided to throw in with the group:
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Post by oldschooldm on Mar 22, 2013 9:42:12 GMT -9
I just have to go with what they feel like to me. That's how I get the best inspiration. The ONLY way to go!
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Post by Rhannon on Mar 22, 2013 9:53:15 GMT -9
I just have to go with what they feel like to me. That's how I get the best inspiration. The ONLY way to go! Yesss!!!!!!!! I am totally agree with you.
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Post by emergencyoverride on Mar 22, 2013 10:24:17 GMT -9
True story! Its gotta be fun or else why do it!
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Post by stevelortz on Mar 22, 2013 15:00:05 GMT -9
I like mesper's dwarves AND yours, labrat! They seem like two different cultures, which can put them imto conflict at times, but they always pull together against the orcs and goblins!
Have fun! Steve
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Post by labrat on Mar 26, 2013 1:53:37 GMT -9
Well so much for my great plan of finishing the set over the weekend. I just have to laugh. It ended up being a much busier weekend than I thought it would be. But that's ok. I'll just keep pluggin' away steadily and get them done. It's mostly just coloring that remains.
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Post by stevelortz on Mar 26, 2013 18:01:09 GMT -9
I've got a half-a-dozen dwarves and a half-a-dozen orcs setting on my workbench. I wanted to get them done over the weekend to introduce a friend at the freindly-local-comic-book-store to cardstock miniatures, but I just got caught up in too much home work. So I can empathize!
Have fun! Steve
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Post by labrat on Apr 14, 2013 16:36:17 GMT -9
Getting some coloring done. Here's the first one that I've completed so far. He's a bit dark I think, so I'll have to lighten it up a bit.
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Post by cowboyleland on Apr 14, 2013 19:05:04 GMT -9
Looks great. I still love the mustache armour ;D
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Post by okumarts on Apr 14, 2013 19:07:40 GMT -9
Moustache armour rocks! I also like the clean lines and uncluttered design. Nice!
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Post by highlandpiper on Apr 18, 2013 0:55:16 GMT -9
Labrat, I can't find a link to any of your miniatures for sale.
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Post by Rhannon on Apr 18, 2013 1:29:01 GMT -9
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