mccoyed

Yeah, I favor using the Ninjago heads too. Especially the Lord Gamadon ones with the silvery paint. But now with Sakaarans...

Still have the Kingdom Joust for $100?

I know that we have an "anything goes" policy for the appearance of drow in our MOCs but I wanted to point out that the new Sakaarans from the Guardians of the Galaxy sets are basically perfect for Drow. Especially if you use the "one-eye"/masked side of their head piece. It'll probably be a while before they pop up commonly in MOCs but they look good and I'll have 3 of my own after getting all the GoG sets. So if you guys were maybe on the fence or uninterested in those sets, the cheapest one or a few BL orders may eventually yield the best Lego drow yet available.

Usually wyverns are depicted as having two hind legs and wings on the forelegs like a pterodactyl. They are also often smaller. But really, as mythological creatures, both dragons and wyverns have many interpretations and iterations depending on who it is that is designing or writing about them. There's no real strict rule about it, naturally.

Gorgeous.

I forgot to comment. This is one of my favorite of the CH 2 Nocturnus builds so far. I look at this landscape and it truly feels universal, recalling all the great wastelands of literature and film. The Dark Tower? WB Yeats' famous poem? You've managed to create a scene that evokes the same sense of desolation and haunting beauty. To think I'd be used to having my hat knocked off by GoH MOCs.

Very cool. Great use of a black background and another totally inspiring brick-built creature. I'm also curious about where those white hoods and torsos are from.

I'm flattered. If I'd had this idea before joining Mitgardia...

Inspiring build. All kinds of stuff in here I'd never have thought of on my own.

Fantastic build. I really admire the way you've tastefully captured a sad and macabre scene. My favorite technique here is the bed technique, I've never seen minifigs abed looking so natural.

Very nice, Legopard.

Thanks. I'm very proud of the black and charcoal color scheme. I forgot to mention a few things about why they stain their armor and weapons charcoal and black, but I can mention it in my Phase 3 build.

Love the build but I kind of feel like Jamus isn't being as subtle as he probably thinks he is. :P

I've seen that cog. It's awesome. I would probably go to caravel size due to the larger size of my crew. Or do you think a cog sized after yours would be able to hold them all?

As I understood it, the Warlords of Nocturnus Challenge is open to everyone except the title can only be claimed by Nocturnians. I have had an idea for a character and army based on the underground comic Artesia by Mark Smylie for a while now and humbly submit this as a title-less entry into WoN. Six weeks ago, somewhere North of the Fallen Angel. Altiera the Exile... a name made famous in recent times by a string of victories in battles that name had no place in. All across Historica, Altiera, who was once called The Maiden, has fought the wars of men. Her homeland is Carr Veron, an ancient citadel on the East side of Butcher's Bay, in the shadow of the great Mountain. It is home to the Faelites, a clannish race of pale humans that dwell in the fertile (for Nocturnus) plains of Faelon. The story of Altiera's exile is famous among her people, but a secret to outsiders. Some whisper that she is destined to become a Queen, uniting the Faelite clans , others that she simply wants all of Historica to know her name before she carves it into the forehead of the man who exiled her. All know her to practice the Old Magic, the Blood Magic, and commune with spirits and demons to send most men to flight in terror and awe. Uniquely anthrocentric in all the diversity of Nocturnus, the Faelites have long kept their territory free of nonhuman habitation, but perhaps things have changed in Altiera's long absence? Nocturnus has been carved up and divided and change is in the air. All the way from the heartlands of Historica, Altiera and her followers could smell it. Now they stand posed on the border of Nocturnus, a short distance from the Labyrinths they once knew well, ready to at last go home. Altiera gives a speech to some of her troops as they prepare to cross into Nocturnus. One of her pikemen flies her personal banner, which she had made when she decided to return to Nocturnus. The usual Red and Gold are broken by Black to signify the sundering of the Darklands and the presence of the Black Spire. Some say she will not rest until she can tear the black from the banner with her own hands. Others say she cares nothing for the politics of the realm, only her vengeance against the Petty King of Carr Veron, who slaughtered her family and sent her into exile. Her men stand in a grassy, boulder-strewn field. Altiera uses a boulder as a natural stage. Behind her is a Sanguine Palm, a type of tree native to Nocturnus. It's blood-red sap is visible through natural cracks in the black bark. "This tree behind me is a symbol! There are none like it in all the length and breadth of Historica save here, in Nocturnus, where even the bloody trees can flourish alongside the bloody folk! What land can be more home to the Faelites, to you the warmakers of Carr Veron?" "None!" And so it was that Altiera led her Veronian army back into war-torn Nocturnus in search of home and vengeance. None know what they will find in the wastelands and dark forests in all the miles between then and now, but Altiera has made herself and her people as ready as she can. Now all that's left is the test posed by the campaign itself, the only test that she has ever cared about. DRAMATIS PERSONAE Altiera the Exile She is only 24 years old but already the veteran of 16 major engagements. She is well loved by her men, partially because she always fights among them. They vy for her favor constantly and rumor is that her affections are shared among any who prove themselves in her service. Captain Saliera She is 34 years old and one of Altiera's closest and most trusted companions. She is sometimes called "The Washwoman" because legend has it that she was a camp follower and washer of clothes before Altiera raised her into service. She has never confirmed the rumor. Captain Ekta Ekta spent his youth touring Nocturnus and is one of the lest xenophobic Faelites you're likely to encounter. His scarification and piercings are mementos of his time among the wilder, demihuman tribes he's lived among. He's an old friend of Altiera's mother's and swore to protect the young girl when she was exiled. He denies that he's actually Altiera's father. Captain Breka Ekta's younger, more conservative brother. Due to their feuding, it actually took Altiera's exile and long years fighting side by side to reconcile them. When she took up leadership of the army and came of age, Altiera made Breka a captain and took him as one of her more regular lovers. Sergeant Ferric and her Pikemen Also called The Crimson Bolt, Ferric has refused promotion a total of seven times. At the age of 29, she has been fighting for Altiera since the day she was exiled and has proven herself a stern battlefield commander most at home in the thick of the shield-wall with her trusted men. The runic lightning on her shield was a gift from Altiera, a sigil of strength and command that is rumored to help her shield withstand any weapon of magic or metal.

But what's Saruman doing there!? Just kidding. Great build!

Aw man, what a nice comment. I have actually been thinking about breaking it down and doing a ground-up redesign into a smaller, sleeker ship so that I can do some MOCs with it when the Mitgardian Ch 2 challenge rolls around. Right now it's so big that it overwhelms my modest photo set-up (my lightbox is tiny and so are my lamps). The crew, however, will remain intact of course! I actually thought of making a challenge for GoH fig enthusiasts to come up with their own addition to the crew, the winner would be included in all MOCs involving The Hold Fast. I worried no one would be interested or that I wouldn't be able to reproduce the fig from my own collection so I never bothered. I also don't know what the rules are involving average GoHers posting their own challenges, come to think of it. Anyway, glad you liked the ship. I promise my next one will retain some of the same scrappiness and hopefully better blend the realism Kabel champions with the fantasy elements I'm always inclined to include. I'll be paying close attention to Gabe's ship(s) as well next time I set out to make one.

I think I'll hold off until I can make something more impressive.

Thanks Rogueang. How do I catch up on the thread or is that not an option? I just want to be as informed as possible.

I love the colors. Kaliphlin and the UoP specifically are where it's at for unique and beautiful uses of unusual Lego colors.

I figured you'd point out the lack of realism! But yeah, I did a lot of research on ships and read all your comments (and others over in the Pirates forum) to that effect. Ultimately I got swept up building it and had limited time, so I had to abandon a few ideas. Most particularly, I couldn't get the sloped sides right and ended up framing over it to give the upper deck a more rectangular appearance. It's a really oversized ship, I think, so I'm likely to do a redesign. If you have time, please have a look at the Flickr. If you don't mind getting into some detail when time permits, I'd love to hear your thoughts on places I could improve. I am most proud of the rigging, interior, the flag idea, and the use of "tree" arches for the lower stern leading up to the captain's cabin. I'm also proud of my 'figs. I think they're one of my strong points in general. :P

What is Chrono? A Guilds of Historica-like group?

I've been suspecting that I'm the only semi-serious AFOL/MOCer in my entire province.

Yeah. I'm overbudget but all the CHIMA stuff I want is on sale. I used to buy CHIMA sets as filler like a "oh this set looks cool" but now I'm getting more invested as the sets really are very interesting to build and often have interesting and useful parts for MOCs.

My store is behind but are doing a bit of a sale. Yesterday I picked up the Ape, Lion, and Eagle Legend Beasts (completing my set) and may get another crocodile soon for the eyes. I also got 70012 Razer's Chi Rider for $35 CAD at Walmart. That's almost half off.