Monday 1 May 2017

Kung Fu Panda!!

hi all

Before we get on to the title of this post, which is very exciting! I've got a ton of these (which isn't very exciting).



These are the clamps that come with the cheap resin I use to doing the water effects. I have loads and they're beginning to take over too much space.  If anyone wants a half dozen or so, let me know in the comments below and I'll send some out to you.

Anyway onto the post, this was my very first Salute purchase and a miniature I've been desperate to add to my Temple of Ro-Kan ranks since his release.  Sculpted by a tournament buddy - Ben Calvert-Lee, this is Kuma....

Kuma is the rock on which the water breaks, the solid and resilient constant of the Temple. With Bo staff or claw he strikes out and floors foes with swift and brutal strikes. Despite his mass it is difficult to pin him down or outnumber him and with a practiced mediation Kuma can reach out to the roots of the earth to bind and hold firm those would overrun him. 


Where do I start with Kuma? not only is he an absolute beaut of a mini, he looks even better "in the flesh" he's also a 'beast' **groans** of a fighter too!  Negatives first, he's a bit pricey - not overpriced because I think he's worth every rice point but he will eat into your warband budget.  He has 3 dice melee, which is fairly average but he doesn't get the cheap Ki boost for extra dice like most Temple monks which tbf has probably kept his cost down a bit.  Now the positives and there are plenty! 

base coats
Looking at his stats first, as discussed he has an average 3 melee dice but it IS boostable albeit expensively (for monks).  No ranged attack but Monk's don't on balance so no biggie. Move is an average 4 but again it IS boostable (again expensive for a monk but boostable).  Ki is a good 2/8 which means he gets 2 Ki a turn to a max of 8 which is better than average meaning he can build up a good store of Ki to power his excellent feats.  10 wounds on his track means he's gonna be around when the blood starts to fly and "Armour (1)" will certainly help. He's a big chap and deals some damage with his +1 to damage which combines nicely with his  "Powerful Attack" and "Brutal" to deliver devastating wounds.  With his "Push Defence" he can bump people off of objectives and deny scenario points.  "First Strike" means he has more control in melee and "Indomitable" means he is harder to outnumber.  What will really help though is his "Fear (4)" which can be boosted to (5) with his "Warcry" Ki feat will cause his opponents to cower away and lose dice in melee ths can be combined with the "Animal Token" which can cause an opponent in base to get a "stunned" marker and causing them to lose another dice in melee. 

with shading
Looking at the rest of the Ki feats and other effects of the "Animal token".  Using his animal senses he can sniff out hidden ninjas with "Awareness" or his preternatural reflexes to dodge missiles with his "Ranged Defence (2)" . "Binding Roots" will hold opponents further in melee and allow easy beatings! or allow him to control scenario objectives. Lastly "Savage Beating" combines nicely with his other melee attributes to give "Combo Attack".






All in all he is a monster and a beautiful miniature, he will no doubt be a central part of my warband.

hope you enjoy 
dGG



38 comments:

  1. Corking mini and a terrific paint-job to boot, Andy. As you say he'll surely be central to any warband you collect around him. Marvellous, and I thought the WIP shots were great. The little tortoise is a nice touch too - what a terrific little composition :-)

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    1. Thanks Simon, he's going to be a very important figure for me I think

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  2. What a great character! Lovely work Andy.

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  3. Great work Andy, the painting looks fantastic, as always all the useful background and traits help to show his benefits

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    1. Cheers Dave, a post coming soon will talk more about the selection of a warband and how the traits and feats create a synergy.

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    2. Sounds very enlightening

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  4. An outstanding figure, Andy, and I can certainly see the appeal of wanting him in your collection.

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  5. Yep that is another super miniature, Andy and also a smashing paintjob too, after much looking I have now found "Tommy Walsh's" Resin in my local "poundland" haven't bought any yet as I haven't got a use for it (yet), but at least I know where I can get it now, thanks for the heads up.

    P.S. does he speak like Jack Black?

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Yes he does Roger ;-)

      Never seen the film though......

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  6. very well painted and sculpted but Japanese myth and Hollywood combined just leave me cold.

    Sorry mate this is the first thing I have seen from Bushido that I am not at all drawn to!
    I do like everything else so it is a shame that I cannot get excited about this figure.

    Sorry to be negative but this one is just not for me.

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    1. No worries Clint, yeah I guess this one is a marmite kind of miniature. I love it but not everyone will due to the "Hollywood" connection. Don't worry mate, there are some really nice ones coming that will be more your cup of tea I'm sure

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  7. Ahh you just know when Andy goes back to Bushido, all is right in the world **sighs contentedly** Lovely mini, love the companion, really like how you have painted the whole thing. Resolve holds string, but I see more and more each post, the sheer visual and game play appeal of Bushido.

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    1. My string is well resolved! There are going to be some more Bushido posts that might test you very severely indeed Hills ;-)

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  8. "resolve holds string." Hmmmm could almost have gotten away with pretending that was some profound Japanese saying. But sadly, its just a typo lol. For string - read `strong`.

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    1. Hmmmmm I'm sure you could have blagged it mate :-)

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  9. Keep him busy Hils, `string` him along while I nick his Kuma ^^

    Truly excellent mate. LOVE this mini.

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    1. Hahaha, nice one mate....what, wait! Nick my what now?!? Lol

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  10. Cracking looking figure Andy!

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  11. What a great figure and very fitting for a fantasy game - probably one you couldn't do without too!
    Excelltn brushwork on him too - do I detect a labour of love there ?

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    1. Exactly Joe, he's going to be a bit of an ever present in my warband I think. I love the animal type warriors in this game.

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  12. aye, this is one of the figures I immediately knew I'd need to buy at some point once I start playing Bushido. Great sculpt and just looks like fun!

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    1. Its a cracker mate thats for sure! a total must have

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  13. I'm guessing I'll be facing off against him in 2 days time......

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  14. What a fun miniature! I really like those birds on his hat. Well done dGG!

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  15. Very cool, Andy. Actually, if you get the other 'Kung Fu Panda' from Tritex and the four that Black Hat do, you could have a whole Panda warband! That would be even cooler! Well, in my opinion anyway...lol

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    1. So cool, found the black hat ones and they will be on their way to da grotto if I can pry some money out of missus gobbo (having spent my gaming budget for the year!) but couldn't find the Tritex one?

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  16. www.tritex-games.co.uk/product/30mm-scale-miniatures-kung-fu-panda-monium-star-x-1-grey-plastic/

    There you go - and only £2.99!

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