Dear readers: with the advent of the new High Elf army book, I decided to finally get around to collecting the pointy-eared buggers. However, I've decided to put a unique spin on my High Elves: they will be a warhost that has been exiled via Intrigue at Court, and forced to survive in the New World as mercenaries. Yes, that's right. Elven mercenaries.

Anyway, I've been contemplating paint schemes for my Mercenary Elves: I want a scheme that completely breaks away from the "bright, elegant and clean" look of most High Elf armies. With this in mind, my choices have been narrowed down to two potential colour schemes:

-Faded brown (with blue highlights here and there)

Or

-dark red (with either blue or black highlights)

Which scheme do you guys think would look better?

I know that if I wanted to make a mercenary-themed army, I'd give my warriors several different colors and I'd also add some non-Elven accessories with spare bits or green stuff (exotic types of helmet, fur capes, shields of other races, various banners and even blackpowder weapons). This would represent the fact that the army has been traveling far and wide for decades and has picked many styles of clothing and weaponry here and there to replace their original ones.

But to answer your specific question: me says go with faded brown.

I'd go a mid range grey. Brown seemes too WElvisy, Red just doesn't seem elfy at all.

I'd pick the brown as well

It's an interesting idea to be sure.

Burro Boskov

I'd stick with the white robes style, given that High Elves wear the colour of death when they go to war: a tradition I imagine they would not discontinue simply for being exiled. I would, however, muddy the robes up. Make it clear that they have been on campaign for some time. Scar the facial features of the leaders. Cover them in cloaks, and occasional trophies. The occasional human sword or dwarven shield amongst the serried ranks of elven spearmen. Chip their shields, and stain the banners. The edges of the robes should be muddy and dirty.

Whatever you decide, don't chip the weapons or be tempted to rust the metals at all. These are still elves and moreover they are mercenaries. People whose lives are dependent on their weapons and armour not failing them do not allow their tools to become disused and shoddy.

Reminds me of a sharpe Quote 'Men are dirty, but guns are clean, Sir!'.

And yes I agree with your point Benedictus.

Owaria

I do like the idea of adding bits and shields from other races (though definitely not the blackpowder weapons: the very idea of Elves using guns makes my head spin). Thanks for that.

An interesting idea, which I just might try out (although dirtying up white robes might be a challenge, painting-wise)

Is this Morien post arrival in Rezephua?

If so, I'd say that wearing white, while cool, if done in the same way as the army of Ulthuan would probably make people stand out a little more than they'd want to in the New Ones' Quarter. Faded brown and blues sounds good to me, perhaps with some kind of white garment that could be easily covered, or only put on when the mercs were going to battle as a company - sashes, or feathers (like the lilac in Night Watch, if you've read it), or whatever kind of tunic they wear under the long robey jackets.

Also, leading on from what Sentinel said, a Lustrian/seafaring theme would be kinda cool. I hear there are new, gnarlier-looking Seaguard models coming out, with a kind of vague sea-dog air, which if it's remotely true would be handy. Otherwise, colourful tropical feathers for unit champions/characters/banners (bird of paradise/tropical parrot/small pterosaur perched on a banner's crosspiece?), the occasional jungly/Temple-city/dockyard extra on bases, perhaps a worried-looking civilian Skink guide in the middle of a Shadow Warrior unit...

Plus, minimal ornamentation on weapons and armour: file down/cut away all that fancy decoration that the High Elf models have on their equipment, to make it look sleek and functional. 'Cos, as we all know, if you are silly enough to put gilt engraving on your weapons in Rezephua, your sword and cuirass will already have been fenced and melted down by the time you wake up from that unexpected blow you received to the back of the head...

Definitely agreed on the minimum of ornamentation. I'm already considering mail ordering a few Empire, Bretonnian and possibly Dwarf sprues (for the shields) to supplement any plastic Spearmen/Archers I buy, to give my Elves a more rag-tag appearance, weapon-wise (as Sentinel so excellently suggested). Maybe using Wood Elf Glade Guard as a base for some of the models would also help.

I've actually started up on a few test models (ie some RBT crew, and some old White Lions, Phoenix Guard and Maiden Guard I had lying around). I'll post pics soon and see what you guys think.

And as to the alleged new Seaguard models......I'll believe em when I see em.

@Chili: Yes, this is Morien post-Rezephua. Now that I think of it, I COULD use a few Lizardmen bits for the Mercs here and there as well (A Saurus' toothed sword on a Swordmaster would look pretty cool, IMO)

I would suggest not to go for the Dwarf Shields. They are a round and small, perfect for a dwarf, while Elf's are several feet taller and quite thinner. It wouldn't offer much protection to them at all.

Another thing is how they would get the shields. 1. If this mercenary army fought any Dwarf Army, all holds would be tracking them down, simply because they would assume that it is another Elf invasion. 2. How could any Elf actually kill a dwarf? (except by some cruel underhand trickery)

I understand that you are taking some liberties with the existing warhammer fluff to make this army work, but I think that dwarf shields is taking it just a tad to far.

Burro Boskov

We know how proud you are of "your race", but getting Dwarven shields mustn't be so much more difficult than getting Imperial or Bretonnian ones. Besides, since many Dwarfs love gold more than they hate Elves, they wouldn't mind selling them some shields if the price is right. But I agree with you on one point: a Dwarven shield probably wouldn't protect an Elf much. Additionally, since Dwarven shields must be much heavier than Elven shields, the Elves would have trouble wearing them.


@ LoNC: You should buy Free Company sprues instead. They have a broad range of weapons and clothing: perfect for what you want to do.

Hmm, I wasn't aware of the Rezphaetualizardmenspelling background to the list, but from reading what Chili said, I'd go with him. I'd keep some white to them, though, as that is an integral part of elven society, exiles or no. But his ideas are good, especially the loss of ornamentation. Aside from anything else, mercenaries are usually fairly poor, and would probably sell the fancy stuff off pretty quickly. Also, that skink guide is an AWESOME idea.

Burro: Dwarven mercenaries.

Folk sayin' that elves can't use dwarf shields: Y'all are aware that elves are skilled soldiers, right? What makes you think they couldn't use a roundshield if they spent a bit of time with it? Having said that, it may be better to go with Bretonnian/Imperial heater shields (the pointy ones knights/swordsmen carry), if only to keep the army looking 'elvish,' given that the pointy shields are such an essential part of the elven image. But shields aren't just sheets of wood held before you in defence- you use them to block attacks, and so forth. Etc, etc. An elf would be fine with a dwarven roundshield.

In other news, the idea of a swordsman wielding a toothed Saruian sword is a good one.

This post brought to you by the letter chaotic.

Okay, here's two (admittedly rather messy) samples of my WIP colour scheme:





Sorry for the poor painting quality: these paint jobs were, admittedly, rushed, and I need to get new brushes, since my old ones have had it. Well, that, and I've always sucked at painting Elven/Eldar skin. :rolleyes:

Anyway....which scheme should I go for? The one with red as a secondary colour, or the one with blue?

No worries: the pics are so blurry that we don't see how crappy your painting is. :P

Just kidding, of course: I myself don't paint so well. After all, no one will look closely at each of your minis one by one, except maybe the jury of a painting contest. As long as your army looks good from afar, it's alright. Those who spend two hours painting each rank-and-file have no life (though I still admire their patience).

Bluuuuue!

I like blue.

I'd have to say red.

Nice flowers by the way

Blue; it's more traditionally elven.

They aren't mine.