Sunday 14 May 2017

Zuba, the all seeing

So what does every hard pressed Bakemono need when he is being battered around the board?  Well a bigger, meaner friend of course!  Zuba is certainly that, standing an impressive 60mm tall with a 50mm base, which I quickly swapped out for a ‘Fenris Games’ version that matched his little compatriots.  Compared to the Bakemono, Zuba the all seeing was a doddle to put together, in effect two big lumps of metal pinned together.  There was the small matter of a couple of antlers/horns to contend with, an unnecessarily fiddly extra in my opinion and already I have had to repair them a couple of times.  Although affixed now, if one of them goes again it might simply be a case of filing them down and moving on.
When it came to painting I found it difficult to steer away from the box art and so red became the predominate colour.  In a bid to link him in with the rest of the group the cloth, armour and leather was all given a muted feel to it, as if it were old or second hand.  Finally some gore on his massive mallet and I had completed my first Bushido faction.
When it comes to using him in the game, I have had mixed results.  Initially I would throw him up the board, taking advantage of his extra range, but this saw him fall foul a couple of times to long range shooting by the powerful Minuro.  Interestingly a more cautious approach hasn’t helped either as opponents would simply run away denying him the opportunity to unleash his powerful attacks.  
Part of the problem has been that we have been running quick, low rice value, games to get the maximum amount of turns in, but this doesn’t seem to play to the strengths of the Savage Wave.  More recently we have just fielded a horde of Bakemono which generate more Ki and ultimately more mischief.  This has proved much more entertaining!
More terrain next!

70 comments:

  1. I concur with your 'horn' conclusion. Sometimes they're more problematic than they are valuable.
    As for your strategic issues, you've probably nailed the explanation yourself but it might be worth having a brainstorming session with us tourney vets – I'll read up on the Bushido rules ;)

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    1. Great for a display model, but I would wince overtime I opened up the carry case. That said they are holding so far, fingers crossed.

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  2. I don't know anything about how you would play him tactically but who cares, just get him on the table and let him be too busy looking gooood.
    Superb painting and basing once again Michael.

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  3. Congrats on finishing up your first faction! They look like a really fun team, so I hope you'll be able to figure out their tactics soon.

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    1. Thank you Rod, I am starting to get to grips with them now.

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  4. lovely painting as always Michael, however that figure really doesn't do much for me, can't say why, but theres something that just looks "wrong" to me. Sorry.

    Cheers Roger.

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  5. Great! And very impressive...

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  6. Stunning stuff Michael, despite the trials of the horns. Great painting. :)

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    1. Thank you, they are still attached as I write this - phew!

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  7. A really lovely little collection coming together😀

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    1. Thank you Matt, there are a couple more waiting in the wings.

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  8. Park him next to an objective to deny it to the other side. His threat factor seems to be the big draw, as everyone will try to avoid being squished!

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    1. That sounds like a cracking plan Christopher, thank you.

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  9. An interesting figure. Nice work and I like the skin colour and muted tones. Really work well together.

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    1. Thank you Mark, it was great fun trying to link the group together.

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  10. Kick those 12 year old kids asses man!! ;0)

    With the Demon maybe go the 'Hell boy' route and just have them filed down?

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    1. Take your victories wherever you find them. :) As for the antlers, I am thinking the same thing, but so far they are holding.

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  11. "Darkness" is your friend Michael.
    Use Oni Rage in the first turn to generate extra Ki for zuba. Horde the Bakemono ki and then whack darkness on as many times as you can. It'll reduce Minaro's range to 4". You can flood him with cheap Bakemono while Zuba smashes the rest! Maybe get a second Oni as well

    He looks awesome by the way.

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    1. Now that sounds like a plan Andy. I haven't tried the Oni rage yet though. I had considered the darkness route, just need to keep the little blighters safe until they have enough Ki. New Oni lingering on the fringes of the painting queue. :)

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  12. Oh, what a fantastic huge model! The're awesome together!

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  13. What an awesome looking mini. The whole crew looks fab mate.

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    1. Thank you Simon, I need to add a couple more units to give the group a more rounded feel.

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  14. The group looks great together.
    Clever to bind them together colourwise with the clothing.
    Good luck playing with them!
    My Cult of Yurei shambling horde has suffered against Minaro in the past numerous times too. So you're not alone in this.

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  15. inspiring stuff indeed, I always struggle with getting to grips with the tactics of a new army myself so keep calm and conquer my friend!

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    1. Thank you Sander, I certainly have a few new tactics to try now.

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  16. I do not envy those opponents he is going to meet on gaming table. :)
    Very imposing model and good painting as always.

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  17. He looks lovely - that red torso and white beard look suitably Japanese.

    Can you get your opponents to chase the little buggers into the big guy's danger zone ?

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    1. That's not a bad idea, if I can hang back and lure them in it might just work.

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  18. Very nice painting as usual, Michael. Whilst he doesn't really scream 'oni' at me, I think he would make a very acceptable Norse troll - I think it's the beard that does it.

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    1. Norse Troll! That made me chuckle, thank you.

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  19. Oh wow! That's truly excellent painting once again Michael. Somehow the antlers do look wrong to me though.

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    1. Thank you Nick, the antlers are odd, they just look, and actually are, a bit flimsy.

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  20. Great figure Michael- love it!

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  21. Just what the Bakemon needed, someone to look up to!

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  22. Lovely painting on this big lad, you've knocked this force out in record time!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you Iain, I have really enjoyed this group more so because they are actually now on the table.

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  23. Congrats on getting the faction finished! The force looks amazing! Shame about the horns, but in case they keep on coming off I think he'd still look pretty good even without them. I think the design doesn't exactly seem to need them anyways

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    1. Thank you and you are absolutely right with the horns, next time they come off they are off for good.

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  24. Terrifying...especially the gore encrusted hammer!

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    1. You are certainly in trouble if you see that coming down on top of you.

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  25. Hellboy's backwards country cousin? :-)

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    1. Funniest comment of the day, goes to Millsy! :D

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  26. That is a cool hammer and a great figure!

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  27. Replies
    1. Thank you Bob and great to have you back!

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  28. Very, very nice work indeed sir!

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  29. Well that looks cool Micheal! Well done!

    Christopher

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  30. Fantastic stuff Michael! I'm delighted reading the descriptions of your school wargames club. With your amazing work on display there will be some eager new entrants into the hobby, I think.

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    1. Thank you Curt, we are a small band, but there is potential for growth.

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  31. Excellent addition Michael, though I am sure the thought of painting the words 'Your Face Here' in oriental characters on the face of the hammer crossed your mind

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    1. Thank you Terry and now there's an idea. :)

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  32. I really like this take on the Oni idea. He has a great cartoony aspect to him, almost Hellboy-ish.

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  33. Fantastic work. Love the brick-y sort of red of his skin.

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