Deth Wizards – Raising the dead

In December we started talking about what to cover for next years CONflict Rhineland, after we did Tanks for the Apocalypse in 2024 by Snarling Badger Studios. Various options were on the table, we were thinking about doing a mech game using Osprey's Gamma Wolves or Arsenal, or doing naval warfare with Galleys & Galleons by Ganesha Games. We considered using Deathship One by Joseph McCullough (the author of Frostgrave), and have the survivors fight a mighty vampire and after me throwing in my Zombie T-Rex, we ended up back with Snarling Badger Studio and their necromantic skirmish combat Deth Wizards.

As that game is capable of solo- and coop gaming as well, it would be very flexible for a hosted table, as we could adapt the scenarios to the liking and skill level of the gamers. Beside that, Florian just got a new 3d printer (Bambu Lab A1) and with him printing Briarwood terrain pieces, it was a great excuse for everybody to paint up some Undead. Even Dino joins in and we will have parallel projects - that is a first.

For me this is great motivation to pick up another Middlehammer / Herohammer warband from my stock and get it painted, just like I did with my beastman. I grabbed my organizer with the undead miniatures, and grabbed a few sculpts that I would like to use with this project, and with Deth Wizards you really don't need that much.

You need a Necromancer, for whom you choose a legacy. This is basically the type of Necromancer you want to play, as you can go from Dr. Frankenstein, to Undead Warlord to the classic raising the dead Necromant, and I went for Stitcher, who commands a small horde of undead creatures. As I wanted some more elite troops than just regular Zombies and Skeletons, which eliminated the Dread Horde Master.

I wrote a brief list, you would start with a total rating of 7 for your undead minions, and that could grow up to 15 in some scenarios, therefore I wrote a list with a bit of sideboard.

• Necromancer (Legacy: Stitcher)
• 3 Skeletons (3)
• 3 Zombies (3)
• 2 Ghouls (4)
• 1 Specter (2)
• 1 Wight (2)

To fit these roles on the table, I gathered a few miniatures. For the necromancer I had various options, as I have all three Necromancers from the middlehammer range, but I went for the most iconic one, the named character Heinrich Kemmler. As Krell comes to mind, I went for that model as well, as I could use him as a Wight (2) or a Death Knight (4), and that would properly fit the idea of a loyal bodyguard with the Stitcher Legacy. I am not yet decided, if I paint up the three Spirit Hosts as Specters, or should go for the model of a Banshee, and have her cover either Specter (2), Ghost (3) or Banshee (4). But I am pretty sure that if I go for the Spirit Hosts, I'll paint the three right away in one batch to keep the finale look tied together.

The Ghouls would be two poses from the regular undead range, while I have about 4 or 5 of them, two is enough for Deth Wizard. The Zombies will be covered by miniatures by The Assault Group, they have via White Knight some sculpts that fit the oldhammer design, and last but not least will be some plastic skeletons, as I have some sprues / bits and pieces from both one of the HANS! boxes and this years Old World Khemri release.

But besides fighting other Necromancers with their undead legions, you have scenarios where heroes of various types will try to enter your lair or fight you on cemetaries and towns, and those need representation as well. I am currently undecided if I am going to do these roles (Ranger, Priest, Paladin, Wizard, Warrior, Rogue and Villager) by using some of the characters and heroes from my other middlehammer warbands, or maybe just paint up a Frostgrave warband and use them for those roles.

As you can see Felix and Gotrek, some Wood Elves who will make great Rangers or one of the Bretonnian Knights on Foot as a Paladin, wouldn't be the worst choices.

Regarding the terrain, there are various items already in production or in stock. As mentioned the Briarwood houses, which look just stunning coming from the Bambu Lab printer, and some other items like Morr's Garden. I like the versatile design of the Briarwood buildings, as they fit this scenario, as well as generic Middlehammer games or Mordheim, and will fit my Realm of Battle board as well.

There is a bit of work ahead of us, but as a group project, we're quite motivated to get this done and have a proper amount of games. We'll keep you posted.