All in all, it's 22 gnolls, with a variety of weapons. For the games currently planned, I doubt I'll ever field them all at the same time. For further utility, they can either be used as non-player wandering monsters (bags of XP), or form a coherent crew for a player. Basing has been kept intentionally simple, with just plain dirt and a bit of dry grass. Works equally well on warm, barbaric islands and in cold, abandoned cities.
First up, the low-level, mediocre threats. These would be crewmen in FG:GA and Thugs (spotted ones) and Thieves (stripes) in FG. Most weapons are also heavily rusted, not getting enough care and/or getting cast-offs from the bigger and fiercer gnolls.
Next up, a pair of raiders (Treasure Hunters, Tomb Raiders), running around with speed and a plethora of weapons. These hounds have better, less worn weapons than the thugs and thieves, and even some old bronze blades found in the ruins, still surprisingly sharp.
Of course, sometimes picking up a shield to help you avoid getting your skull bashed in is helpful. Therefore, 4 of these fellows. One of them has dark greyish fur and skin, signifying an inherently stronger foe (always useful to have easy visual distinction between almost similar models). As with the raiders, weapons are better taken care of, and occasionally sharp bronze treasures found.
Although a shield can be useful, sometimes you just have to rely on bashing the others head in before he does yours. For that, grab a big sturdy axe, or a long spear (with a nice, bronze cleaver as spearhead!). Once again, one stronger dog goes in shades of grey.
In case prey refuse to get close to you/let you catch them, some ranged weapons can be useful. Three shades of archers (sandy with brown spots, plain brown and a surprisingly wolflike grey, for increasing danger and strength), and one rare crossbowdog.
To lead this pack, someone with a good bark is needed. Call him Alpha, Captain, Heritor, Chieftain, or just "Will hit you if you dun do as 'e says", he can have many names. And of course the strongest wolf has an almost pure black fur (and a missing eye that doesn't seem to slow him down any), as well as a honking big sword (and a smaller sword. And a shield. And...)
In a caste for themselves are the mages and shamans, signified by their almost albino white fur, going ever purer with age and experience. The apprentice is more of a very light grey, while the master mage is next thing to white in these dirty circumstances.
As a unifying mark, a significant portion of them have dabbled a crude, red cross on their shields or clothes, to signify their packs for anyone who sees them, gnoll or non-gnoll/interloper/dinner.
In case anyone is curious (and because I want to remember for myself, in case I expand them), I noted down which colours I used for the various fur shades. All colours were Vallejo Model Color
- Thieves and Thugs have Iraqui Sand fur with Mahogany Brown markings (spots for the Thugs, stripes for the Thieves).
- Brown-furred gnolls have Mahogany Brown fur, with either Tan Earth or (Game Color) Parasite Brown bare skin.
- Grey-furred ones have Grey Green fur with some Medium Sea Grey bare skin portions.
- The Leader have Black Grey fur, with a little bit of Grey Green skin showing.
- The Shamans have Deck Tan fur and skin, with the Master Shaman getting a White drybrush over it.
That's one more new years promise (2 years delayed), and one project closer to starting on some of my newer ideas. I hope they offer inspiration.
/Fool Out.
