WIP Wrath of Kings Goritsi Zeti

Here are some quick shots of a very WIP Wrath of Kings Goritsi Zeti vampire chick. I do wish the details on this model were a little less…soft. I’m having a horrible time picking colors on this model, and I really don’t know why. I started out with a strong idea of what colors to use, and somehow it didn’t work out. Hopefully she will come together in the end!

MGM Painting Wrath of Kings Goritsi Zeti WIP 5-16-15a

MGM Painting Wrath of Kings Goritsi Zeti WIP 5-16-15b

Alternative Vampire Counts models: Special

It’s been a while since the last alternative Vampire Counts models post. In case you missed it, I covered Rare here, and I covered Core here.

Now it’s time for Special!

Corpse Cart!

GameZone makes an alternative Corpse Cart.

http://www.gamezoneminiatures.com/tienda/en/vampires/315-carro-de-el-cosechador.html

Hexwraiths & Black Knights

I combined these two because many of the alternative minis for one could just as easily work for the other.

Games Workshop makes the first alternative here: Morgul Knights. LotR minis are a little petite compared to WHFB minis, but, especially if they wholly make the unit, they can still be used and fit in nicely.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat980025a&prodId=prod1500554a

The LotR Ringwraiths could also work well.

GameZone makes a set of Mournful Knights that I really like for my VC army.

http://www.gamezoneminiatures.com/tienda/en/vampires/313-caballero-lugubre-i.html

There are many different poses of these models.

Mantic makes some decent, not-too-expensive cavalry that could be used – Revenant Knights.

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/kings-of-war/undead/product/undead-revenant-cavalry-10-figures.html

Graveguard!

Mantic’s Undead Revenants, although previously mentioned for another unit, could make decent alternative Grave Guard.

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/kings-of-war/undead/product/undead-revenant-regiment-20-figures.html

Mantic’s Undead Wights could also work. They are heavily armored skeletons and styled similarly to the other undead Mantic models.

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/kings-of-war/undead/product/undead-wights-3-models.html

Crypt Ghouls!

Forge World makes some models that I use in my Vampire Counts army as Crypt Ghouls. I greatly prefer them to the official model.

I think the models are really well done, and they still fit the VC theme nicely. Forge World also made a limited edition Skin Wolf that can still be found on places like eBay.

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer/Warhammer_Monsters/SKIN-WOLVES.html

If you like the idea of using werewolves for crypt ghouls, but you either aren’t willing to pay Forge World prices or prefer a different style, Mantic also makes Undead Werewolves.

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/kings-of-war/undead/product/undead-werewolves-3-figures.html

All kinds of Bats!

There are several options in a VC army that involve bats. Here are some models that could be used.

Wyrd Malifaux Night Terrors

http://wyrd-games.net/shop/Night-Terrors-2-pack.html

Reaper Bat Swarm

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/bat/sku-down/02668

Another Reaper Bat Swarm, this time by Werner Klocke

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/bat/sku-down/77046

Reaper Crypt Bat

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/bat/sku-down/14010#detail/14010_p_1_jg

Another Reaper Crypt Bat

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/bat/sku-down/14009#detail/14009_G

Games Workshop Giant Bats

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat980027a&prodId=prod1500582a

Spirit Host!

The first alternative Spirit Host is a model from Privateer Press that I think is pretty cool, and it’s easily the right size.

The next two models are by Wyrd.

First, Malifaux Kiria Avater. It comes with a 50mm round base, but should be able to fit on the proper base.

http://wyrd-games.net/shop/Kirai-Avatar-of-Vengeance.html

Next, Malifaux Poltergeist. It comes with a 30mm round, but shouldn’t be too small to use a 40mm square.

http://wyrd-games.net/shop/Poltergeist.html

The next alternative Spirit Host is by Reaper Miniatures. I like this model a lot, especially when compared with the cheesy guys-in-sheets GW model.

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/ghost/sku-down/77095#detail/IG_2955_1

The next option is to take several of these guys by Reaper and put them together on a 40mm square, similar to the GW model.

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/ghost/sku-down/03298#detail/IG_3336_1

The next alternative is actually another GW model:

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1380047a

I think the Forge World Mourngul makes an awesome, if tall, alternative Spirit Host.

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer/Warhammer_Monsters/MOURNGUL.html

The last two alternatives I’ve found are two Reaper models. The Night Spectre is a very appropriate model.

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/skeleton/sku-down/14547

Next, the Reaper Nightspectre.

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/skeleton/sku-down/14182#detail/14182_jb

Next will be Vampire Lords & Heroes. They will be broken into 2-3 parts due to the fact that there are literally dozens upon dozens of options!

Alternative Vampire Counts Models: Rare

Now it’s time for the alternative models I’ve seen for Vampire Counts Rare choices!

Varghulf!

Although it’s very different from the GW Varghulf, but appropriate in size and theme, the Mierce Creoda Guthwulf would make a very cool Varghulf.

http://www.mierce-miniatures.com/index.php?act=pro&pre=mrm_dkl_ang_mrc_mbs_501_000

Cairn Wraith!

Bushido makes a model that could be used as a Cairn Wraith. I’m not a fan of the orphan component of this model, but the Wrath could be a good choice, although it’s also very different from the GW model.

http://www.bushido-thegame.com/catalog/orphan-yurei-and-wrath

Cool Mini or Not also makes a possible Cairn Wraith substitute model:

https://www.coolminiornot.com/shop/cmon-miniatures-2/judgement-1.html

Next up is Mantic. They make a group of Wraiths.

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/kings-of-war/undead/product/undead-wraiths-10-figures.html

Reaper also makes a possible alternate, and I actually really like this model.

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/ghost/sku-down/77097#detail/IG_3155_1

And another good Reaper choice:

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/ghost/sku-down/14653

Here’s a possibility from Games Workshop!

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1380047a

Tomb Banshee!

I think this Reaper model makes an excellent Tomb Banshee.

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/ghost/sku-down/03170#detail/03170_p_GreyHorde

Here is another Reaper option:

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/ghost/sku-down/14148#detail/14148_af

I really like love this particular Reaper model, and in a themed force it could be made to work very well as a Tomb Banshee.

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/ghost/sku-down/14106#detail/14106_DarkMaiden_ds

If you don’t mind partial nudity, this is another option from Reaper.

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/ghost/sku-down/14053#detail/14053_G

Reaper really makes a lot of ghostly female models, here’s another:

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/ghost/sku-down/03475#detail/IG_1290_1

And another:

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/ghost/sku-down/14183#detail/14183_jb

I really like this one as well:

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/ghost/sku-down/14274#detail/14274_G

Terrorgheist!

First, is Reaper Kaladrax, a perfectly awesome skeletal dragon.

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/skeleton/sku-down/77192

Mierce also makes a far less skeletal option if that’s what you prefer.

http://www.mierce-miniatures.com/index.php?act=pro&pre=mrm_dkl_bry_gwy_mbs_601_000

Mierce also makes a model that is an appropriate size and, although not like the GW Terrorgheist, it could be used in its stead.

If you missed it, here are the alternate Core choice models: http://wp.me/p3Yek1-d7.

Next up: Special.

Alternative Vampire Counts models: Core

You may not know this, but I don’t just paint models, I also play Warhammer Fantasy. I play Vampire Counts and Lizardmen. A lot of people, myself included, like to find the best looking models for our armies, which sometimes includes alternative models. There are a ton of amazing models out there, and quite a few of them would make nice substitutes for VC models. Because of the sheer quantity of great models available, what was originally meant to be one post will actually be a series of posts, starting with core choices since every army includes some of these!

Here are some of the alternative miniatures I’ve come across for Vampire Counts core that really stood out to me:

Zombies!

Mantic makes what I believe to be some of the best zombies available, especially for the price. They are what I use in my army.

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/kings-of-war/sprues/product/undead-zombie-sprue-3-figures.html

They also make command models for these zombies that can be found at http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/kings-of-war/undead/product/Zombies-Command.html.

Crypt Ghouls!

Although I do like the GW crypt ghoul models, I think that Mantic also makes some decent ones. As usual for Mantic, they are much less expensive than their GW counterparts.

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/kings-of-war/undead/product/undead-ghoul-regiment-20-figures.html

Dire Wolves!

There are several nice options for Dire Wolves out there.

First, there is the obvious GW Fenrisian Wolf Pack for those who prefer entire wolves instead of partial skeletal ones.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1460179a

GW also has some wargs that would make decent dire wolves:

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat980025a&prodId=prod770031a

If you like really gory wolves, try Game Zone. They have several different sets of these wolves with varying poses.

http://www.gamezoneminiatures.com/tienda/en/vampires/309-lobos-zombis-i.html

And for a little spooky without being gory, Enigma makes a nice figure:

http://enigmaminiatures.com/shop/massive-darkness/dire-wolf.html

Skeletons!

First, we go back to Mantic for basic, cheap skeletons.

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/kings-of-war/undead/product/undead-skeleton-regiment-20-figures.html

Reaper also has some basic skeletons that aren’t too expensive.

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/skeleton/sku-down/77001

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/skeleton/sku-down/77017

Reaper also has a ton of other types of skeletons that I won’t list off here, but if you wanted a themed force you could do it with them – pirates, soldiers, etc.

If you wanted a characterful command, these models from Reaper could help. I particularly like the musician!

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/skeleton/sku-down/14291

Check back soon for the next part in this series: Rare.