Miniatures Monday - Holy Orders

Which is better?

"I turn the ghouls"

or

"Back, foul shambling shapes of corruption, I banish thee to the graves whence you came, in the name of (insert your deity's name here)"

Well, of course we'd all like to think we'd be the latter, putting the maximum effort into role-playing the cleric, but after a while, we default to the former and I think that games are possibly the poorer for it.

If you do want to go for the Laurence Olivier approach to playing a cleric, then this is the figure for you. Just look at that dour, humourless and very earnest face, framed by a cowl and - for good measure, in case the deity is off making a cup of tea - a helm. That's the sort of face that would willingly turn heretics into bonfires, put a hand to the Inquisition's rack and, yes, use twenty words to turn undead where only four would do.

The shading on the robes is perhaps a little heavy-handed, but bear in mind that the figure is only 25mm and on the table (rather than exposed to the merciless eye of the digicam and flash) would probably look a lot better. Again, the metal of the breastplate, what can be seen of it, is suitably tarnished, and the tiny pouches at the belt are well done. Note the way in which the belt buckle is picked out in metal, compared to the leather of the belt itself.

The club in the right hand, presumably there in case faith has to be backed up with deeds looks menacingly chunky and those knobbles would make a dent in many an orc's head. In fact, the cross itself is heavy enough to do 1d4 of damage if wielded in anger.

The (lack of) wisdom of wearing a white under-robe into a dungeon is exemplified by the generally grubby finish that Andy has given it. That's definitely a sixty degree wash.

Playing men in skirts is an interesting feature of running magic users and clerics (the enfolding swathes of cloth would surely hinder the expeditious retreat of this holy man). Poking out from under his hem are his sandals, which - while authentic for this monastically-oriented cleric - might be a bit impractical in the dungeon environment. I can just imagine a 1st level cleric, having just begun his career in dungeons complaning that he can't go down that tunnel because he'd get his robes dirty and the underground stream would give him chillblains.

It's given me an idea that clerics and the religious in general might make a good theme for the Hooks Alphabet. I'll mull it over and see what comes up.

I'm hoping to post something on the Solo Dungeon this week and something a little tasty that might be of use to you all as well. If not, then I'll see you on Friday for some more art.