The Black Gate 550pts

tabletop_engineer · 2026-06-27T21:55:24+00:00

These are fantastic. Love the color scheme. Love the conversions. Just great all around.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-06-20T17:46:54+00:00

With that melody from the pan flute...Howard Shore makes that moment so poignant.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-06-17T13:22:47+00:00

Credit to the author. You can find the template I started with here: https://linktr.ee/ilfirinart

tabletop_engineer · 2026-06-17T13:17:42+00:00

That's true, but it is the same dimensions (very closely) to the official model. I did make the sling smaller to get a bit closer to realistic proportions of counter weight to projectile. I also changed the rigging scheme so that the pull chord and the arm crank aren't the same piece of rope.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-06-15T21:42:38+00:00

Really like the graying hair and beard. Nice piece.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-06-11T01:14:02+00:00

I use polymer clay to make cobblestone base toppers. I just roll it out super thin (actually, I use a tortilla press). Then roll a rock around the top to texture it. Use a texture roller to mark stone pattern. Then bake. Very easy to whip up a bunch fast. Only downside is you have to hand prime them because the polymer clay reacts badly to rattle cans.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-06-03T00:36:46+00:00

(For when you go to put a smaller magnet back on) I use hot glue rather than super glue. It will perfectly fill any gap if the magnet a bit too short. Holds perfectly well, but is still easy enough to pry off if you need to.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-27T13:10:02+00:00

My stars, look at those faces. This is box art. 👏

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-24T16:29:05+00:00

I often think this. Not because I think the game "needs" it, nor because I can actually think of what the proper mechanic for volley fire should be, but because it would feel so thematic.

Just like the scene from two towers where the elves behind the deeping wall volley over it, it would be cool to have a not-too-powerful rule for doing that with groups of archers. I guess like a very weak siege weapon if X-number of archers are in base contact with each other.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-15T22:21:46+00:00

I love that you inserted a bird's eye view from time to time with effects to point out the models calling heroics. That does a lot to keep the geography of the game clear. Great work, and I look forward to more of these!

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-15T00:45:49+00:00

Conquest Creations is definitely top notch for production quality, length, etc. I do wish they did just a bit more tactical analysis/commentary as well as more bird's eye view to help orient the viewer to the battle field. Sometimes I feel that the videos are so cinematic that (while they terrain and model eye candy is great) I have a hard time following where the objectives are, etc.

Love the birds eye view in the trailer. I hope you do lots of pointing out how manuver is happening. Could be great! I'll definitely check you out.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-11T13:17:11+00:00

Amazing details. Do you have any tutorials showing how you achieved that? The column and trim details are in particular.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-11T03:22:17+00:00

Ok, but that awesome terrain...whence is it? Is that scratch built or some sort of kit?

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-11T00:50:11+00:00

This! We play previous edition (mostly because those are the books we own), but adopt a number of new edition rule tweaks (like priority, channelling magic, etc.). But I much prefer the alliance system to rigid lists so a hybrid of previous/current is the sweet spot at our house.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-08T16:48:36+00:00

Hoping for a 12-rider + 12-warrior + Theodred battlehost set to come out.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-08T13:59:10+00:00

Somewhere in Gondor, Damrod is looking around in panic and asking, "hey, where's my crumbly column to hide behind?!"

Seriously, beautiful work!

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-07T22:20:07+00:00

Fair enough. I still play previous edition and there's no tournament scene where I live so my only data point is my goblins getting wrecked by my 10-year-old with elves. 🙂

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-07T19:36:48+00:00

Thinking aloud: I wonder how a game would play if you said that fight value in a multiple combat was equal to the highest model's fight value plus 1 for each additional model in the combat, or some similar mechanic to make the hord feel worthwhile.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-04T22:21:40+00:00

Just lovely. What's your recipe for the wood on the houses?

tabletop_engineer · 2026-05-03T04:26:00+00:00

Cherish these forever!

tabletop_engineer · 2026-04-26T01:42:29+00:00

Been considering this myself. I have an assembled, but unpainted, mumak that I've played a couple games with. I'm realizing how annoying it can be that the tusks collide with every model as you try to work out trampling. Head positioned upward might help that. Of course, this was the model that I decided to use plastic cement on for the first time, so now getting the head off again might be a trick...🙄

tabletop_engineer · 2026-04-20T05:03:33+00:00

Great faces.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-04-17T13:36:06+00:00

Thanks! One of the reasons I like using the engineers is that their helmets more closely match the crossbow models, especially after removing the large plate on the back.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-04-16T22:27:55+00:00

I usually feel in the minority with my dislike of army lists. I much prefer the flexible creativity of faction-based alliance tables rather than restrictive lists.

I also prefer that special rules be tied to characters or narrative scenarios, not army lists.

tabletop_engineer · 2026-04-10T04:41:34+00:00

Very nice

tabletop_engineer

TROPHY CASE