The Lost City of Exactamundo Pt 6: Balewind Vortex

Posted on 29/09/2017 by sho3box


Bizarre as so many of the architectural pieces in the Lost City of EXACTAMUNDO! are, this one is possibly the weirdest.  It’s probably not even “architecture” really.

Off all the summoned-into-existence Arcane Fulcrums in the Storm of Magic range, the Balewind Vortex is the one that feels to me most like a video game power up.  That is one of the reasons why I like it.

Summoning a pillar of skulls with a throne on it – for example – is fun, but the general mint ice-cream whoooosh-i-ness of the Balewind Vortex is something that I can relate to more for some reason.  It looks to me more like what I think a magic spell should look like. YMMV etc.

The Vortex is pretty limited in terms of use as a terrain piece I suppose, although it is ideal for various “Stop the Ritual” types of scenario.  Plus it looks fun, in a video game power up sort of way.

I can also see it as being a spell effect that keeps an item out of reach in a video game until certain criteria are fulfilled, the vortex suspending a key or chest or other maguffin.

A pillar of skulls with a throne on top next time.

Filed under: Terrain | Tagged: , , , , , , |

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17 Responses

  1. Alex, on 29/09/2017 at 13:15 said:

    Nicely done – again, I want one in me garden 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. Riot, on 29/09/2017 at 14:03 said:

    I use one as an ‘arcane fulcrum’ for ‘storm of magic’ games. Even that sentence shows how ridiculous this stuff is . . . but I do like the stuff!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • sho3box, on 29/09/2017 at 14:58 said:

      On one hand think that with things like this it’s better to go up to eleven. Go large or go home.

      On the other hand I tend to consciously paint some of the more outré elements in relatively sensible colours.

      There is a tension in the process there, somewhere between flamboyantly ridiculous and sneaking the absurd in by the back door.

      Which is art school shit-talk, but y’know, it’s my blog and if I can’t waffle here then where? 😀

      Thanks for the feedback Riot!

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  3. mrsaturdays, on 29/09/2017 at 14:31 said:

    These fulcrums are very desirable terrain bits. Great job on this one, the stone and metal look great in contrast to the ghosties.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • sho3box, on 29/09/2017 at 15:50 said:

      Thanks Mr S!

      I considered trying a different approach to the ghostly elements, as I wanted verdigris on some of the metalwork on terrain in the set, but went for the tried and tested “mint choc ice” approach anyway.

      I was concerned that adding to the palette might make the set lose focus and end up looking to patchwork.

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  4. Curis (@Curis), on 29/09/2017 at 15:43 said:

    The design reminds me of the Warmachine Cryx soul markers. Those were little twisty ghostskull bastards. Or the Citadel D&D Air Elemental.
    Be a fun challenge to take this kit and present the wind in as many odd ways as you could. Like paint it as flesh! Or paint it like it’s wood.
    You’ve done another great job paintng it.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • sho3box, on 29/09/2017 at 15:56 said:

      Ice cream or poo are what spring to mind for me Curis. Actually it could be used as some sort of appalling Nurgle Stream of Corruption maybe. Like a sorcerer suspended on the spray from a burst sewer. Disgusting.

      I saw the vortex part of this model glued to the top half of an ogor recently. It has been painted as a blue genie/djinn on the Tears of Envy blog. It was great, really nice.

      Thanks for the feedback!

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  5. Suber, on 30/09/2017 at 16:52 said:

    While the sculpt of the whirlwind itself looks a little bit cheesy to me, the piece as a whole works, at least in the way you say. I love the ghost-ish look of the energy, nice work on all of it.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • sho3box, on 30/09/2017 at 18:36 said:

      The sculpt on the ghostly part is very straightforward yes, and the screaming skulls are a given in any creepy mist in every visual genre I can think of right now. Certainly a bit cheesy, by any measure 🙂

      It reminds me of some sort of 80s or 90s toy playset, the sort of thing that would likely have some kind of action feature, like it would spin and light up or something.

      Thanks for the feedback Suber.

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  6. Azazel, on 02/10/2017 at 09:59 said:

    Nice work on this thing. Is the vortex removable from the base, or is it all one, connect3ed piece?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • sho3box, on 02/10/2017 at 10:23 said:

      Thanks Azazel.

      The base and the top platform are separate pieces and the vortex is made of two components.

      I painted the vortex separately and glued it together after painting. I considered magnetising it for storage etc but figured that as it is intended as a platform to stand toy soldiers on, I didn’t want to risk any instability.

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      Reply
  7. The model warrior, on 05/10/2017 at 12:48 said:

    Stunning work. How tall is that thing ?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Warcry Ruined City/Starter Set Terrain | sho3box, on 19/08/2020 at 16:01 said:

    […] Mausoleum/Corpsewrack Mausoleum, Ophidian Archway, Magewrath Throne, Dragonfate Dais, Balewind Vortex, Eternity Stair, Dreadfire Portal, Numinous Occulum and Baleful Realmgates over the last eight […]

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