Wednesday 10 August 2016

Master Ekusa

Hi all

A couple of Bushido related items for today's post, I'll get to the part relating to the title later on but firstly...

For the first time in 25+ years of gaming I'm going to compete in an official tournament! Bushido has caught my imagination to such an extent that I want to be part of the wider playing community and to do this I thought I would enter into a competition.  Bearing in mind I'm a relative novice at the game, having played a handful of games this may seem a little bold but as I've said on numerous occasions I'm not at all worried about winning or losing but rather having fun and this seemed like a great way of playing lots of games and meeting like minded people.  

The comp is in November at War Boar Games, Bromley, so I've a few months to test out different Temple of Ro-Kan lists against my fellow Nerd Herder - Damon, who is also competing using minis from my Prefecture of Ryu faction. I don't expect to do that well as my list will be based on my love for fluff models (i.e ones that look great or has the best background as opposed to the most effective) but I hope to pick up hints and tips on the day from more experienced players. 

As I said earlier I will be taking my Temple of Ro-Kan faction of which I have quite a few options as I now have nearly two dozen minis boosted recently by the Temple starter set (ironically purchased lastly for this faction...) and so onto the second part of the post and the title of it - may I present Master Ekusa....


Master Ekusa is from the starter set and is a figure I've liked right from the beginning of this little Bushido obsession of mine but didn't have a place for him in my starting line up. So he has sat patiently (must be his zen training...) in the wings (the store...) until I finally cracked and had to have him and his fellows join me in da Grotto, I'll review the rest of the set as and when they're painted.

This model is absolutely gorgeous and so full of character it's ridiculous, it has a deceptive amount of detail in the sculpt due to the large amount of critters that adorn him like the oriental (and geriatric) Snow White.  I was very tempted to push a "Discworld" theme by including four elephants on the base somehow but couldn't quite work out how. Instead what I did was make a bamboo mat out of wooden cocktail sticks which i think worked really well.  Colour scheme wise, by now I have a theme of orange robes with red edges/sashes for masters, as Ekusa is the eldest he also needed a shawl so got a lovely yellow one unlike the white one on  the website (i can't paint white that well!).  I really enjoyed painting the tortoise - Kame Sam, as i got to use a yellow glaze, a technique i don't use a lot.

I don't normally do painting WIPs but this time I thought I would make an exception as I think the transformation is quite remarkable. You may also have noticed I have changed the LOS markers on the base, I quite like them in Orange which is my chosen Temple colour and my Prefecture will now have Blue.

base colours

with shading

final highlights and glazing





Master Ekusa is a fantastic support model, he is a virtual battery for "Ki" generation and is able to draw Ki from friendly models and deliver it to others within 12" meaning those who need it most to boost their stats or perform a Ki feat get what they need when they need it!  unlike Aiko he can defend himself and sit on objectives helping out those front-line fighters by channeling Ki to them.

hope you enjoy
dGG

114:69 (-45)


figs bought:painted (difference)







21 comments:

  1. What a lovely figure. Your paintwork has certainly done him justice.

    Oh, and cool blog banner as well. Very fitting for someone called Da Gobbo.

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    1. I don't know why it's taken me so long to get him Bryan as he's gorgeous!

      thanks dude, he is now the official logo for the site! i don't know who produced the picture for a credit though which is a shame as he's pretty damn cool!!

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  2. Lovely figure Andy and a cracking paintjob on him as well Smashing scenic bits in the photo's too.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thanks Roger, he's a cracker alright, the Tori gate is an objective that I built for the game and looks the part on the board for sure

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  3. Now that is a figure, he shold be you new headliner. Always wanted a pygmy army mounted on tortoises. Good luck in the tourney

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    1. If I didn't already just have da Gobbo just go up he probably would be Martin.

      A Pygmy calvalry sounds AMAZING!!!

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  4. I'm a massive fan of WIPs Andy, as well you know, and I really think you do your wonderful paint-jobs some great injustice by now posting more of them. What an excellent article :-) Love the bamboo basing too, and the application of shades was terrific. More of these please o' Baron of Bushido!!!

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    1. It's a bit late for the rest of the starter set as I've progressed most of the models beyond base and shade, but I might do more in the future if it's of interest to folks

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  5. Master Ekusa is simply delightful, you must have enjoyed painting this chap no end, he came out looking staggeringly good didn't he. I love the turtle he sits on. If I didn’t have a full itinerary of projects on the go and into the far future, I`d DEFFO be taking up Bushido. Seriously I would, at this stage. You have wowed me totally into `wistfully` wanting to. What you have done though is make me very poignantly aware that I have a rather lovely collection of Orientals of my own to mess about with... when I finally get my Crimson Heroes off the ground.

    Massive good luck at War Boar Games. Competitions in the right spirit can be a heck of a lot of fun. I used to do them (and regional tournament games) years ago for Sabertooth games Lord of the Rings 40mm TMG: I enjoyed all that no end (and won so many unique specials, my collection was awesome.. god knows how, `cos like you, I played for fun not to win). Enjoy every moment and take pride is showing off all your lovely miniatures in public. Mmm sounds fun.

    BTW Update: Hils is over first week in September.. flight booked and everything now.

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    1. I looked at that Crimson Heroes after Tarot mentioned it a while back, it looks v cool and I'm sure would be great fun with some Steve magic sprinkled over it.

      I think because you played for fun you won, more relaxed, able to think through moves without stress and without the constant "I need to win" roar in the back of your head distracting you. I'm going to really enjoy it, but also the build up - poring over stats and values and finding a balanced warband is half the fun! Damon and I will be playing more and more as we get closer to the date (November) just to get any wrinkles ironed out rules wise but I'm really looking forward to playing other factions and other players

      I'll check my calendar and email you guys x

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    2. {{I looked at that Crimson Heroes after Tarot mentioned it a while back, it looks v cool and I'm sure would be great fun with some Steve magic sprinkled over it.}}

      Oh I dunno, I think we could both put up rather a good show on the rpg table, you and I :)))

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  6. Just staggeringly excellent. This is surely one of the best yet.

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  7. In full agreement, this is one of the best yet, maybe THE best of the best. I am in awe at the sculpt itself and the painting does not let it down. This is incredibly beautiful, and approaches fine art of magazine cover standard.

    Have a blast with the competition, will be rooting for you.

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    1. Thanks T, the excellent sculpt brought out my better efforts for sure. X

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  8. What a cracking sculpt and love your brushwork dude. Digging the new banner its a bit big on my screen so had to zoom out to see it fully. I am sure you can squeeze it to fit or something like that when creating the banner.

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    1. I'm sure you're right Simon, I'm just rubbish with tech, that I'm just pleased I got the pic on the screen at all......lol

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  9. Great brushwork dGG, you've done great justice to super sculpt. Good luck with the competition thing.

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  10. You're right, Andy, this does have a quirky Discworld feel about it. A lovely model and an excellen paint-job, Well done.

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    1. I was toying with the idea of four elephants painted onto the cloth on the tortoise's back, not sure my brushwork is up to it.

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