Troll War Machines 3-in-1 set (vs Wood Elves)

[nine09nueve]

(These are 3 of my entries into the DDC 2016 PLEASE VOTE! as well as my 9th submission on ideas.lego.com/projects/135443)

"So, Ratpus, what have you got for me?" enquired Gazgob the Wizard, his voice echoing around the large cavern.

'Wonderful things, your wizardness," a snivelling wretch of a goblin replied, face covered in soot, oil and grime, "Wonderful things!"

Ratpus considered his next words carefully. This was the first time he'd ever had personal dealings with the famed (and if truth be told) feared goblin wizard. And if the stories were to be believed, Gazgob had a short temper and a long memory... not a good combination in someone who could set light to you with the flick of a finger. Apparently.

"Well, you wanted versatility and choices... and so instead of just making you one war machine... I thought to provide you with three!" he declared with a most leering and sycophantic flourish.

"Go on," the Wizard replied, giving very little away, much to Ratpus' disappointment.

"Erm... Yes... so..." Ratpus stammered, before recovering admirably. "The framework is the same for all three, more or less and each one is pushed by one of our more stupid trolls."

"More stupid Ratpus? Is this not a more dangerous state of affairs when they are pushing these machines near our troops?" enquired the Wizard once more.

"Not at all, quite the opposite your wizardness. The stupid ones are normally the strongest, and tend to obey their very last order given... until they are given a new one. You see we need one goblin to drive one troll, which in turn will drive one war machine."

Ratpus paused, watching Gazgob for any evidence of his pleasure or displeasure as his words sink in. If he knew any better, thought Ratpus, the wizard seemed to take twice as long as most trolls to understand anything that was told to him.

"Okay," nodded Gazgob as he waved dismissively in Ratpus' direction, "You mentioned choices?"

Ratpus felt a flush of heat wash over him for some reason.

"Er yes, Wizard Gazgob. Three choices," replied Ratpus whist removing some big sheeting from each of the three machines, revealing them to the Wizard for the first time.

"The slasher here, has four spinning blades, the basher there has two spinning hammers and finally the masher, my personal favourite as I get to ride on it rather than walk behind the troll, has the two hammers striking up and down in front of the wooden shield. Actually, through the shield to be precise."

"Ah yes," interrupted the Wizard, "I remember seeing those during our last battle against the humans. What were they from?"

"They were from some sort of field ka-non. Or at least I think that's what they call them. Never seen those humans fielding those kind of infernal weapons before. Perhaps they of Dwarvish origin my Lord? Anyway, a fat lot of good it did them. Eight large explosions and a horrible mess in their lines that our chariots managed to charge through with great success. You must have been proud of your brother seeing him rout the enemy before the rest of us got half way across the battlefield?"

No. Definitely not the right thing to say. Ratpus could actually feel the air around him start to feel hot. And thicken.

"You presume rather too much Ratpus for a cobbler of... machines," Gazgob the Wizard spat the words out with slow, and rather deliberate menace.

"The fact that my brother was fortunate enough to take advantage of Dwarvern incompetence and misplaced human trust is one thing... a fortune that has been extended to you only as so far as that you have been gifted nearly three pieces of wood and metal... scavenged to protect our worthless trolls from the inevitable missile barrage that will invariably come their way. And I truly like what you've created. They will beget more chaos and mayhem than any amount of damage that those hairy rock eaters' faulty weapons can cause."

A final pause. Ratpus was beginning to realise, as beads of sweat poured down his back, that perhaps the Wizard wasn't as slow to comprehend as he had once imagined. Just slower to speak as quickly as most goblins. A trick that Ratpus wonders he should have learned.

"But do not EVER tell me who or what I should be proud of. And certainly not my STUPID SHINY BROTHER!"

And with that, Gazgob the Wizard turned to walk out of the chamber, leaving a rather hot, and incredibly scared Ratpus, with his war machines. And a faint smell of singed hair.

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The beauty of this 3-in-1 set is that they all work. Don't believe me? Watch the video and watch them in action versus a unit of wood elf scouts!

Edited April 30, 2016 by nine09nueve

[songwm]

I like the first one. Good job!

[soccerkid6]

Cool siege engines and they fit the goblin aesthetic nicely I like how you present your builds with a story as well

[nine09nueve]

I like the first one. Good job!

As in the Slasher? Yeah I have a sweet spot for that one as it was the first one completed :D

Cool siege engines and they fit the goblin aesthetic nicely I like how you present your builds with a story as well

Thanks SK6 - they are very Greenskin aren't they? The story is hardest part... or at least it takes the most brain power! :D

[The_Cook]

Is this intended to be one model that can be rebuilt in three different ways or a set contains three models?

If it's the former then you might want to revisit the designs and check that they all utilise the same pieces. It looks to me like one has the ribbed round bricks; one uses smooth. Two have gears, one uses cams. A couple of bricks unused isn't a problem but you need to be looking at 98% overlap for a sensible 3-in-1 set.

[nine09nueve]

Is this intended to be one model that can be rebuilt in three different ways or a set contains three models?

A couple of bricks unused isn't a problem but you need to be looking at 98% overlap for a sensible 3-in-1 set.

Yup one model built 3 ways... I should have put more of the info behind it (I did on IDEAS)

PIECE COUNT : 169 (total not including troll or goblin minifigure plus accessories)

Slasher = 105 / Basher = 104 / Masher = 115

[rodiziorobs]

Sweet little siege machines! I remember once I built one once that had axes that chopped up and down as it rolled, but it was clunky and nowhere near as cool or compact as yours. That's pretty cool that yours is a 3-in-1 as well.

I also liked the story

[nine09nueve]

Sweet little siege machines! I remember once I built one once that had axes that chopped up and down as it rolled, but it was clunky and nowhere near as cool or compact as yours. That's pretty cool that yours is a 3-in-1 as well.

I also liked the story

Thanks Rodiziorobs :D Any chance you've still got any pictures of it? Would love to see someone else's creations of any war machines...

[GeoBrick]

Sneaky. 'Forcing' people to buy three sets to have 'm all on the field.

Nice design. I'll have to revisit your Ideas page now.

[nine09nueve]

Sneaky. 'Forcing' people to buy three sets to have 'm all on the field.

Nice design. I'll have to revisit your Ideas page now.

Well I wouldn't want anyone to miss out! After all, no self respecting greenskin army wouldn't want to field a force without the 3 of them!

Oh yeas - please do revisit,.. 9 submissions and counting... I plan to wear TLG down until they HAVE to start revisiting the castle/fantasy theme in earnest :D

[Littleworlds]

These look great! Like real Lego-sets, which I assume is the intention. God, I really miss having a medieval-fantasy-theme...

[sparkart]

I like these! They're all wonderfully terrifying, but the hammering doom of those up and down mashers appeals to me the most. Nice job.

[Rider Raider]

Wow man! You should join the Guilds of Historia, these are amazing!

[nine09nueve]

These look great! Like real Lego-sets, which I assume is the intention. God, I really miss having a medieval-fantasy-theme...

Me too! Hence why I want to spark a revival via LegoIDEAS - its slow work though! :(

I like these! They're all wonderfully terrifying, but the hammering doom of those up and down mashers appeals to me the most. Nice job.

Thanks :D You don't want to be caught in the path of any of them... but at least with the slasher and basher you can duck... There ain't no ducking from those mashers when they come down!

Wow man! You should join the Guilds of Historia, these are amazing!

Heh thanks for the support but I don't think so... 1) My builds aren't a patch on the ones there... 2) I don't really DO the stuff you see so much on GoH... scenery and buildings etc instead I do more army building stuff... plus 3) I *think* that for GoH you gotta pick one faction and build for them continuously - and that's fine - but I have 5-6 maybe 7 army factions on the go... I could just stick to one faction or land/region etc

[rodiziorobs]

Thanks Rodiziorobs :D Any chance you've still got any pictures of it? Would love to see someone else's creations of any war machines...

I don't :( It was probably about 20 years ago, before my dark ages.

[The Maestro]

Like them all although a bit of variaty would be nice keep it up

[Lordofdragonss]

The last one is my favorite!

[nine09nueve]

Like them all although a bit of variety would be nice keep it up

Wha? It's a 3 in 1... they need to be a *bit* similar no? Actually... I tell a lie.. they don't have to be and that reminds me of an idea I had prior to this... Thanks Maestro!

The last one is my favorite!

Not surprised with that big hammer of yours in your avatar... :D

[Wardancer]

How realistic is a set with three bigfigs?

Edit: Never mind, just read the thread.

Edited April 29, 2016 by Wardancer

[LittleJohn]

Great war machines! The masher and basher are my favorites, but all of them are excellent

[nine09nueve]

Great war machines! The masher and basher are my favorites, but all of them are excellent

Thanks :D And double thanks for the follow on IDEAS and all the supports for the submissions (although the Elf Battle Chariot is feeling a little left out :P

[LittleJohn]

Thanks :D And double thanks for the follow on IDEAS and all the supports for the submissions (although the Elf Battle Chariot is feeling a little left out :P

Oops, guess I missed that one! Fixed that