Earthbound Hunters
Lore / Backstory
Inexplicably torn from the storm, the warriors of the Earthbound Hunters are believed to be lost souls of Sigmar. Cursed to wander the Mortal Realms fighting the horrors within and without, knowing with every clash of steel they will not be reforged when they inevitably fall.
An Earthbound Hunter’s death is final.
Ideation
Up until 4th edition, with some exceptions I wasn’t really drawn to the Stormcast, and from a lore perspective found them a bit boring? The rules are OK, nothing that drives inspiration though.
I’m a huge fan of the newer models, unfortunately I don’t love painting with metallic paints, and the Stormcast are all metal. I set about to find a color scheme I could paint over and over without frustration, something that avoided using metallic paints as a core of the scheme.
I found my inspiration in 40k, using “painted” armor ala Space Marines as the base. I built the scheme out from there, using a desaturated earth-tone palette, contrasting with bright blue-ish steels.
Examples Permalink
Recipe cards Permalink
The following is a rundown of how I painted these models for myself, it’s descriptive not prescriptive, and I strongly encourage experimentation and exploration that may lead you somewhere close or better.
I've documented the exact colors and brands I used, but I promise you just need to find something close in your collection, no need to buy new paints.
As for brushes, you can learn more about what I use on the Toolbox page.
Brands Key & Paints List:
- PA is Pro Acryl (27) show
- Beige Grey
- Black Brown
- Bright Warm Grey
- Bright Yellow Ochre
- Brown Grey – Wash
- Burnt Sienna
- Camo Green
- Coarse Grey – Texture
- Cool Grey
- Dark Camo Green
- Dark Orange Brown
- Extra-Fine Concrete – Texture
- Flesh – Wash
- Fluorescent Green
- Grey Green
- Khaki
- Light Umber
- Mahogany
- Nova Orange
- Orange Brown
- Payne's Grey
- Slate Grey
- Transparent Green
- Warm Brown
- White Blue
- Yellow Green
- Yellow Ochre
- AK is AK 3rd Gen (1) show
- Tenebrous Grey
- GG is Gamers Grass (1) show
- Tiny Dark Moss
Armor Plate Permalink
We're taking a volumetric approach here. Edge highlights still exist, but it's mostly shapes and light based highlighting.
- Base:
- PA Dark Camo Green
- Wash:
- Marine Juice
- Layer:
- PA Dark Camo Green
Only panels that directly face the light.
- Layer:
- PA Camo Green
- Highlight:
- PA Yellow Green
Leather Permalink
- Base:
- PA Black Brown
- Wash:
- Marine Juice
- Layer:
- PA Black Brown
- Highlight:
- 1:1 PA Black Brown : PA Light Umber
- Highlight:
- PA Light Umber
Bone Permalink
- Base:
- PA Beige Grey
- Wash:
- Marine Juice
- Layer:
- PA Beige Grey
- Highlight:
- 1:1 PA Beige Grey: PA Bright Warm Grey
Eyes Permalink
- Base:
- PA Beige Grey
- Wash:
- 1:1:3 PA Fluorescent Green : PA Transparent Green : Lahmian Medium
Steel Permalink
This is Non-Metallic Metal steel. Don't overthink it, just use contrast and straight edges and lines to give a believable and readable NMM look for the tabletop.
- Base:
- PA Panye’s Grey
- Wash:
- Marine Juice
- Layer:
- 1:1 PA Panye’s Grey : PA Slate Grey
- Layer:
- PA Slate Grey
- Layer:
- PA Cool Grey
- Highlight:
- PA White Blue
Stone Permalink
- Base:
- PA Grey Green
- Wash:
- Marine Juice
- Layer:
- PA Grey Green
- Layer:
- 1:1 PA Grey Green : PA Cool Grey
- Layer:
- 3:1 PA Cool Green : PA Grey Green
Scratches and lines.
Parchment Permalink
- Base:
- PA Light Umber
- Wash:
- Marine Juice
- Layer:
- PA Light Umber
- Highlight:
- 1:1 PA Light Umber : PA Khaki
Fire Permalink
Mostly the wings on prosecutors but also some weapons and torches here and there.
- Base:
- PA Burnt Sienna
- Wash:
- Marine Juice
- Layer:
- 1:1 PA Burnt Sienna : PA Mahogany
- Layer:
- PA Mahogany
Tips feathered out.
- Layer:
- PA Nova Orange
Mid Flames.
- Layer:
- PA Bright Yellow Ochre
Closest to source.
Bases Permalink
- Texture:
- PA Extra-Fine Concrete
- Texture:
- PA Coarse Grey
Sparingly, make piles and blend them in.
- Layer:
- PA Mahogany
- Drybrush:
- 1:1 PA Warm Brown : PA Yellow Ochre
- Drybrush:
- PA Dark Orange Brown
- Wash:
- PA Flesh
- Wash:
- PA Grey Brown
Sparingly, mostly to create shadows and darker spots like natural mud.
- Drybrush:
- PA Orange Brown
- Rim:
- 1:1 PA Mahogany : AK Tenebrous Grey
The Tenebrous Grey can be subbed for any off-black.
Postmortem
This is one of my more recent custom schemes, and I can honestly say there is nothing I would change at the time of this writing. I feel like it's a solid effort to result series of recipes.
OK, OK, if pushed I would do more elaborate forest bases. These bases are just a little off from what I really wanted to do, but I let a deadline compromise my vision there.
I wanted something that felt like fall in Vermont. Slate rocks, amber, gold, and red leaves littering the ground; mud, rich red browns contrasting as a backdrop for the vivid fallen leaves.