Gabe

Looks like a very interesting build with a lot going on, i only wish i could see more! Adding larger, brighter images would be a great help. From what i can see, the broken tower corner and the helm set in the base really stand out. I am curious about whats going on with the cart as well.. it almost looks like it's tipping over?

Certainly a lot of variety in this garden! I love all the neat rows of crops contrasting with the wilder vegetation outside the garden walls. In a way, i wish the base was irregular rather than bordered, as this would enhance that contrast. Also, i wonder if butting the rocky outcrop in the corner hard up against the garden wall might have been a better choice than leaving a one stud gap? Finally, although your photos could be a bit brighter, the clean white background for your moc is very neat, and your photos are crisply in focus. Nice work!

Ok, i'll pay that... well played!

Nice! I quite like the grey window screen (?) on the upper floors, it looks unique and gives me ideas. I do have to wonder what would happen if two people tried to enter both doors on the ground floor at once though!

Mini horses! You can't mention mini horses and then not show them, i am so disappointed! For a minute i thought you meant the cat, and had visions of it loaded up with parcels. Having said that, it's a lovely compact build with some nice details. I do like the sheild on the corner and the offset half-timbering on the first floor. The statue looks great too, although i wish the plinth it stood on looked a bit more detailed or ornate. The two buildings look great together as well!

Yeah, i seem to remember doing that as well? But that was YEARS ago now and i wasn't sure if the culture of GoH had changed at all in that regard. Cheers, i'll post an update soon then! (Lol Issac calling yourself lazy... i don't think so!) Awesome! Look forward to seeing it!

Thanks Mccoyed! I've had a few people mention Skyrim, although i don't know the game myself - i must have picked it up from my reference pics. The water is really quite simple - trans light and dark blue tiles over various blue coloured plates, interspersed with some trans clear elements for foam and bubbles etc. I find it a nice mix for a flowing stream. There is another pic on my flickr which is slightly elevated on the water side and shows it a little more clearly. Thankyou Kai! I enjoyed making the sawblade section most of all i think. Not sure that it is 100% successful, but it gets the point across! Cheers Garmadon! The roof design is modified from Siercon and Coral's excellent tutorial, which you can watch here. I've used it before in my Mitgardian moc from a few years back, it's a fantastic technique! Thanks deGothia for your kind words! Thanks Zilmrud, glad you like it! Thanks Grover for your kind comments! I agree about the little pyramid peices, they work well for stonework as they aren't too bright. The trick to getting them to blend in with the grey, i think, is to not overuse them. The waterwheel was indeed a pain and is the part of the whole moc that i dislike the most! I had to build up the trans-clear 'foam' in that area just to make it look like it was actually being turned by the water at all.. I don't find it an altogether satisfactory solution, i think i will have to revisit it again in another build. Thanks mrcp6d, glad u like it! Thanks zoth33 for you kind comments! I'm glad that the concept of raw product going in one end of the mill and processed product emerging from the other comes across... i wanted to hammer that point home as i wasn't sure if the function of the building would be clear otherwise! I agree with you too, i love those Nexo knight shields and it's great to see them coming out in new colours too (Gotta get me some sand green ones now!). Thanks Titus for your comments! Haha i may very well - part of my motivation for sending my old character Erudhalion to wander round for a bit was so i could get to build more in each guild. I guess we shall see how that pans out..! Have to agree with you about the straight water edge on the left hand side - it is a bit odd sitting next to the irregular base like that, and doesn't do much to suggest the waters flow.

Just posted a freebuild that i'd forgotten about- yeah i know it's set in the land of green tights, pls don't hold that against me! I also have a little cog with Kaliphlin colours that i built around the same time, but i still need to swap out minifigs for that - i'll try to get that sorted over the next couple of days. Ooh nice, i'll be looking out for that! Good stuff! Hope the mail gods smile upon you... Btw, does anyone have any thoughts about posting challenge WIP's in this thread? I know some ppl prefer to keep things under wraps until they post, but i can't remember if there was a general rule about it or not. I quite like posting WIP's personally cause it helps me maintain momentum, and the feedback is often very useful.

Just a little freebuild in Avalonia that i made as part of the Summer Joust this year - i just remembered that i was intending to post it here! (I have another from the same period too, but i need to swap out figs and take more pics, so that will come later) Hope u have enjoyed my build! C&c welcome.

Nice little build Issac! The corner pillars look great and the corners of the cheese slope roof provide simple yet effective ornamentation that feels very Dwarvish. I love the hinged feature splitting the house in half as well, i've always wanted to try my hand at that. I have to agree with The Stad about the chimney flue though, that would have been awesome to see. Lovely work!

Oh, that's brilliant work and will be a great resource. Thanks so much Titus for taking the time and effort to do this! Looks like i need to hold off on going to the library for a new book!

Nice! I do like the tan building with the corner balcony, it has lovely proportions. I also like the mix of buildings crammed side by side in the street, it looks quite realistic. If i were to make a suggestion, it might be to lose the big dark grey half arch covering the window on the ground floor of the medium nougat building - it pushes the dark grey from being a welcome accent to being a bit overpowering, and looks a little odd next to the arch of the doorway next to it. I would also think about adding some more texture on the walls of that building too - i feel like the neatness of the repeating brickwork pattern looks a bit modern. Nice to see your Varlyrian streetscape coming together!

Nice troops! I don't think i've seen armoured fauns before! The standards look great as well.

I'm really enjoying this story, i love the dialogue especially, you have a real knack for that. Looking forward to the next installment!

Your dragons are all beautiful, it's been a real treat to see them on Flickr and as part of the Summer Joust. The colour scheme on Maji is particularly striking and the base is lovely as well. Is it my imagination, or is Maji slightly smaller than your other dragons? The head construction is interesting... i do like it, but it also looks a little rodent-like with the 'ears' standing up like that!

Aw thanks Narbilu, glad u like my builds! The 1x1 round pillars would not have filled the gap, or given the nice octagonal shape to that section. I'm sure the jumper plates could have been detailed in some other way, but i happen to like my spikes. No regrets! Thanks for your kind comments Issac! I'm looking forward to building a lot more in both Kaliphin and Mitgardia!

Hey all; Who's planning to build something for challenge I? I am planning to be as predictable as possible and build a shipyard - our navy and merchant ships need rebuilding, especially in Peregrinus!

Thanks Titus! Funny, the horns on the tower seem quite divisive! I added them almost as an afterthought, as the tower needed an accent to break up the brown walls. I thought it called out to the horns on the helms as well (Not traditionally very Norse, i know!). Cheers, glad you like my builds! Thanks Henjin for your comments! Yeah, i can see the Orcish similarity now, although that wan't what i was going for at all! I like them too, i think it gives the tower quite a unique feel. I don't really want to stick too closely to one style of architecture or another either - this is a fantasy world after all. Thanks McCoyed! I'm glad to hear that you didn't think the palace interior looked too busy, i mucked around with the colours quite a bit in the hope of avoiding that outcome. Thanks for your kind words! Cheers CaptainAaron! Thankyou very much Nergoue! Cheers mate, good to see you've made your way to the guilds as well - welcome! Thankyou very much zoth for your kind words! Thanks Basiliscus! I think i have heard of Kagemusha, but am not too familiar with the story - i will check it out for sure. Thanks de Gothia, it feels great to be back again. Thanks for your lovely comment!

Such a cool microscale, the dome looks really stylish too. My favourite part would have to be the toolbox building - i've not seen that before! The Elves stickers on the sand green shields look great as well. Zamorah sounds like a fascinating place!

Lovely little build, adde, i really like the road spilling out of the black border. The loaded packhorse looks great and the brickbuilt plant makes a lovely highlight too. Welcome to the guilds, and welcome to Kaliphlin!

Hello again all. I know i've been absent for a long time, but book 3 sounded so exciting that i couldn't resist coming back! For this book, I will be changing my main character, but won't be abandoning Erduhalion entirely, as I still want to tell the story of Erudhalion/Erland's journey with Runa Hoskuldottir (for backstory, see this thread ... yeah it's old i know ). My new character, Anuar, will be showing how things are getting on at home in Erudhalion's absence. Anuar has been Erudhalion's chief political decoy for years, but is as unlike his lord in temperament as he is alike in appearance. Anuar has spent most of his adult life sequestered in Erudhalion's main palace in Peregrinus, where he has led a pampered life and has grown used to idleness. He is vacillating, retiring and philosophical in temperament, and would rather spend the day in the library than seeking action or adventure. Although trained in combat as part of his duties, he has no enthusiasm for the martial arts, and is a mediocre fighter at best. However, he is dutiful in carrying out his professional obligations, which have taken on a new seriousness since Erudhalion's disappearence during the Kaliphlin civil war. The high priestess Nammuat, who is a political power in Peregrinus in her own right, has persuaded Anuar to step into Erudhalion's persona on a more or less continuous basis, until he can be found. Nammuat fears that in the current climate of political instability, Peregrinus could easily become embroiled in destructive struggles for power without a strong, visible leader. The problem is, Anuar is none of those things, despite looking like his employer. Nammuat intends to do whatever it takes to ensure that Anuar becomes convincing enough in his new role to stave off political turmoil or worse - if he can survive long enough!  Meanwhile, in Mitgardia, Erland, Runa and Olaf the cat have arrived in Stedvik, a small village at the mouth of the Greywind river where it empties out into the Bay of Storms. Although the summer is not long past, Runa is surprised to see that ice has already formed into hard packs on the water, and snow lies thick on the ground. This is not natural weather she thinks, something is clearly amiss. The travellers are quickly hailed on arrival by Oftrygg Ramussen, the headsman of the village, and an old friend of Runa's father. 'It is fortunate that you are here!' he exclaims. 'Without an icesinger, we might have been cut off from our trade routes to Pikesteel Mountain! The river is already frozen solid, as you see.' Runa smiles. 'I shall soon clear that' says she, 'but whether it will stay that way is another matter. When did the weather turn? This snow is heavier than anything i have known this time of year'. 'A week ago, the storm came suddenly from the northwest' replied Oftrygg, 'The winds were as bitter as if they had been sent express from the great frozen wastes themselves, and we were hard put to it to bring our boats ashore before they froze in the bay! It doesn't feel entirely natural... and i worry also about the mountain too. The bad weather came from that direction, and the dwarves there might also have been caught unawares. A few days ago we heard rumblings and crashes in the distance, as if there was a great battle raging up there!' Runa looked troubled as Erland came up the jetty to join them. 'My dear, i must turn aside from our journey to help clear the Greywind of ice, so that the trade route to Pikesteel Mountain is kept clear. This the icesingers have always done.' 'But of course' said Erland, 'and i shall come too. You may face danger on the way, and surely the river barge will need crewing?' Oftrygg looked relieved. 'That would be most kind, Erland, and would free up another villiager to tend to our ships and our flocks.' He then turned to Runa, a quizzical look in his eye. 'Your betrothed is a fine man, but i don't believe i've met his family, and i know all the major clans within a hundred miles! How did you meet?' Erland and Runa looked at each other and exchanged an amused smile. 'Funny you should mention that' said Erland, 'It's quite a tale. Lets go inside and we shall tell it to you over a mug of ale'. And with that, the trio turned their backs on the ice and snow, for now, exchanging them for the comforts of the fireside, Olaf padding along at their heels. ~~~~~~ Hope you have enjoyed my builds and (somewhat sketchy) storytelling! Hopefully I can add to it before too long. C&c welcome

Thanks for the warm welcome fellows, glad to hear that my story sounds good to you! It feels so good to be back. :) I'll make a couple of separate introductory story posts later tonight, to kick things off.

Hey all; It's been a while, but i'm excited to be getting back into GoH again! I hope it's ok, but i'm wanting to run two characters - the reason for this is that they are connected. I still want to tell the story of Erudhalion/Erland's journey with Runa Hoskuldottir (for backstory, see this thread), but also introduce a new character to show how things are getting on at home in Erudhalion's absence. My new character is Anuar, Erudhalion's chief political decoy for years, but as unlike his lord in temperament as he is alike in appearance. Anuat has spent most of his adult life sequestered in Erudhalion's main palace in Peregrinus, where he has led a pampered life and has grown used to idleness. He is vacillating, retiring and philosophical in temperament, and would rather spend the day in the library than seeking action or adventure. Although trained in combat as part of his duties, he has no enthusiasm for the martial arts, and is a mediocre fighter at best. However, he is dutiful in carrying out his professional obligations, which have taken on a new seriousness since Erudhalion's disappearence during the Kaliphlin civil war. The high priestess Nammuat, who is a political power in Peregrinus in her own right, has persuaded Anuar to step into Erudhalion's persona on a more or less continuous basis, until he can be found. Nammuat fears that in the current climate of political instability, Peregrinus could easily become embroiled in destructive struggles for power without a strong, visible leader. The problem is, Anuar is none of those things, despite looking like his employer. Nammuat intends to do whatever it takes to ensure that Anuar becomes convincing enough in his new role to stave off political turmoil or worse - if he can survive long enough! Anyway, let me know what you think! Do you think it has potential as a storyline, or is just a bit trite? Just to clarify, i intend Anuar to become my main character for guild purposes, but i will not be abandoning Erudhalion just yet! Keen to hear your thoughts! :)

Nice battle shots Niku! I personally feel that 200 a side is heaps for a decent battle scene, especially if you have cavalry, wagons, buildings etc. It's not just the figs and thier accessories, it's also the amount of ground that you have to landscape, and with a huge area (that you would need for 1000's of figs), that can end up looking a bit thin. I've seen a couple of battle scenes at conventions that i have felt could have been cut down to half the size and been more effective.

There is an awful lot to like about this build - nice composition, the varied trees and foliage, the different pitches and textures of the roof and the ring as a door handle are all great. You might want to work a little on getting your walls and rooflines to meet up, there are a few gaps there. But you certainly have a flair for making engaging builds - i like this very much.