Chaos Dwarf Army Project

[Georc]

CHAOS DWARF DESIGN PROJECT

the most of todays generation of Warhammer generals kow them
possibly only as marginal group in the storm of chaos campaign.
but the older of you know them as an stand alone army .
meant are the Chaosdwarves or the orphans of games workshop.

the Past
The Chaosdwarfves have always been a little bit diffrent and the concept took or takes getting used to. With the release of the 5th edition they became a revision.they were took out of the structure of chaos and made more independent from Chaos. Their culture is strongly based on that of the ancient persians and assyrians,one with only a few could relate with.
This concept found only a few followers and after a ashort time the chaosdwarfs disappeared again. From this day on GW had not really an idea what do with them and so the chaosdwarfs are “slumbering “. They never became an armybook or a revision of Ravening hordes Which came out with the 6th edition of warhammer. untill today GW has no ideas what to do exactly with them.The general statement is: “ the chaosdwarfs are not dead,but we have not forgot them ,but for the next two yearswe’re not gonna re-release them “

The Present

In the last 10 years, since their disappearence many things changed
in the warhammer world.Warhammer fantasy itself went back to its
dark & grim roots. Chaos is domianting once againand is threatening every living being in the warhammer world. The artwork & Look were revised in the 6th edition and noone was saved not even the Chaosdwarfs as this study of the hellcanoncrew shows:

http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/ ... rtwork.jpg

the chaosdwarfs still have their assyric and persian elements and yet they blend into the actual chaos design without problems. these and other artworks done in the cause of the design of the Hellcanon design are the ground building upon and transmit them to the hole army

The future
Here begins our work and complete the work beginning with the sparc GW ignited with the hellcanon. now are many things about to carry this design over to old strucktures.

we have 2 years time for getting this projekt on that could set standarts. A team of free volounteers have begun their work in august 2005 on this projekt. In shortest time the project had blown away the limts of a thread and gained a subforum in www.tabletop-forum.de .

http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... .php?f=130


Reorganisation of course were needed and we became an exclusive usergroup, but the work remained openly visible to every one. also was the lange changed to english andi nternational members were introduced.

Now our team has about 20 members in the field of organisation, Artwork, miniatur building (sculpting,converting, etc.) .together we willwork to make our plans reality and give the Chaosdwarfs a new face.

But how does such an design process look like?

Instead most other projects we start with redesigning the army and not with armylist and rules. This gives us the advantage to have artworks miniatures and much more stuff which inspired our members and motivate them to spend their less free time in this project. It was very important that members see that their ideas become concepts, their concepts become scetches, their scetches become miniatures and this they will hold in hands some day.

After this first brainstorming Phase in which we build a base of talented and motivated members we started a more directed development in the project. We organized a rule section and an armybook creation section which are both hidden to work here in silent. Rule crew worked hard to create an armylist which is balanced on one hand but also tough and fluffy on the other one. For this we had members which are best in their job:

T'War, a Chaos Dwarf Fantatic who has created all entries and organized all
Grimstonefire, also a Chaos Dwarf fanatic who take care for fluff side
Darkness, a real rule guru who has written several special character building guidlines
Malahidael also someone who takes care for fluff
Bismarck a german power gamer who´s home are tournaments who look for balancing all
Heimdall german rule guru, moderator in germans biggest boards rule section

These guys create our armylist, which I will here offer with our current basis of the design process. You woul´dn´t find rules, and these are also nothing to show and discuss here in a P&M forum. So please comment the design and not the list itself especially without having seen the rules

Before goind to the armylist, some general words about the main concept:

Mainconcept development:

The Theme
The are diffrent themes which are part of the Chaos Dwarfs:

- asyrian, persian culture theme
- mechaniks - theme

Engeniers
http://photobucket.com/albums/c342/MattiasGrozny/?action=view&current=engineer.jpg

- demontheme

Obsessed
http://www.directupload.net/show_image.php?u=1386&n=dr2hz3Xj.jpg

- slaver theme

We can put all together to form our main theme:

Chaos Dwarfs, Lord over demons and machines

Skills and Attributes
- Chaos Dwarfs don´t mutate like humans or other chaos sensitives
- Chaos has formed them in a psychical and with a long lifetime physical way
- They have become evil and proportional to their lifetime muscles and also jaws and theet grow up
their heads become ossified with growing old
- Because they climb up during lifetime, the leaders of the Chaos Dwarfs chaos formed like younger Chaos Dwarfs
- Through their strenght they are good in machine engineering, technicans, smiths, and miners
- also they have become magical skills
- Magic gives them the skill to control the energies of the warp, also demons and demonic energies
- They can also put demons into machines
- They don´t produce much children, so their nation is very small
- They use millions of slave for the much lesser works in the miens and smiths
- Sorcerers also use slaves for victims and experiments


Miniature Development

The Chaos Dwarf Body (Men):
Chaos Dwarfs dont mutate like other races. Psychical they become more and more evil and so they are diffrent to the neutral Dwarfs. Cause Dwarfs in generel are moe magical resistent Chaosenergy can´t influence them as fasten as other races. But because they become very old chaos finds their way to influence them physically. With time their muscles grow up to enormous size. Also their theets grow up in an unnatural way. Often they shave their hair completly or they have a long plait.

http://www.directupload.net/show/u/1386/T2Odw5lE.jpg

http://www.directupload.net/show/u/1386/5hFkCIAQ.jpg

Beards
They will have the same cureled beard plaits like they had in the last edition. This was an important style element to show their asyrian, persian origin. So again we will use this element as very important in all of our designs

Long theeth ( mutations )
Difficult, there are diffrent meanings about the long theeth. Hardliners want them, because they think like their beards this is also an ancient element which should have a place in the new edition. Others can live without, because they orient more on the normal Dwarfs and the "they don´t mutate" rule
What to do now. I think the don´t mutate rule is important, so Chaos Dwarfs shouldn´t have bigger eyecatcher mutations. But also it makes sense that very old Chaos Dwarfs which are influenced by chaos over thousands of years become more mutated than others. This longlivings or IMMORTALS are if they are really old Charactes or Veterans ( IMMORTAL Unit ) Here we should add some mutations to show their age.
I think about
- long theet (Predator style)

Examples
http://www-db.embl-heidelberg.de/jss/servlet/de.embl.bk.wwwTools.GroupLeftEMBL/argos/predator/pred1.gif
http://www.bigtimecomics.com/images/Statues/Predator%20Unmasked%20Mini%20Bust.jpg
http://www.caseymaloney.com/images/posts/comiccon/predator.jpg

- fossied foreheads (Klingone style)

Examples
http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/klingon_evolution.htm

- horned foreheads (Predator style)

Examples
http://members.fortunecity.com/bucwheat/pred/grz.jpg
http://members.fortunecity.com/bucwheat/pred/skl2.jpg


Here a study from Barbarus

http://www.directupload.net/show/u/1386/T2Odw5lE.jpg

Anatomie Studie
Ok, this was the theorie, time for some practice. We have to look how Dwarf anatomie will look. For this it will be necessary to sculpt some naked male and female Dwarfs. If we had an idea about the perfect Chaos Dwarf anatomie of the normal standart Dwarf we can beginn to mutate him. Adding more and more muscles and look if our idea works.

The Standard Dwarf

Here the simple version without any details

http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/Chaoszwerge/GreenStandard01.JPG

and a more detailed version with more muscles

http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/Chaoszwerge/GreenStandard02.JPG

The Elite Dwarf
my first tryout become a bit to large so he will perhaps fit into the elite range. He has much more muscles than the Hellcanon Crew Dwarfs and also he is 1-2mm taler. The sculpt is made with SuperSculpey. It´s more easy to work with, because you can sculpt a great area. So I´m able to sculpt the whole body in only one evening. The material must be baked in the oven to become hard. It´s perfect for bodies und subconstruction because you are able to make size and proportion perfect and bake it if really finished. The Pictures haven´t much contrast which is a problem of the light putty, but I hope that you can see what I tried out here,


http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/Chaoszwerge/eliteconcept01.JPG
http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/Chaoszwerge/eliteconcept02.JPG
http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/Chaoszwerge/eliteconcept03.JPG

The Character / Immortal

http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/Chaoszwerge/GreenCharacter.JPG


Ok here a summary and and a comparement of all version with the GW original

http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/Chaoszwerge/Anatomiestudie.JPG

http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/ ... ikel11.jpg


After this introduction of the mainconcept let take some light on the armylist. Don´t wonder we deleted all Orc and Goblin units, only Hobgoblins will be still included. This reflects an independent race with a dual armylist like Ogre kingdoms, TAU etc. Instead of O&G we developed new units to fill the gaps in the list:


Lord:

Tyrant (CD Lord) Mount option; great taurus, mechanic mount

Concept by Barbarus
http://www.directupload.net/show/u/1386/5daWog56.jpg
http://www.directupload.net/show/u/1386/Q7435gj2.jpg

Concept by Strehnschaa on Great Taurus
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 2/3/as.jpg

Prototype Miniatures by Tuffskull
http://hometown.aol.de/FlorWn/czwergfertig2.jpg
http://hometown.aol.de/FlorWn/czwerg2fertig.jpg

Prototype miniatre by Goatman
http://mitglied.lycos.de/go9/lorimbas.jpg

Sorcerer Lord Mount options; Palanquin, Lammasu

Concepts by Strehnschaa
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 1137013546
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 1137320429
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 1137320429
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 1137320429
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 1137320720
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... rKopie.jpg

Mount concepts by Strehnschaa:
Palanquin
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 1137419377

Lammasu:
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 1137231304

Conversions by GeOrc
http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/ ... erer02.jpg

http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/ ... erer04.jpg


Hero:
Despot (CD hero)
see Lords.

Hobgoblin Khan Mount options; Great Wolf

Concept by Strehnschaa:
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... nKopie.jpg


Bull Centaur Hero
no Concepts until now, basic one see bullcentaurs

Sorcerer
see Sorcerer Lords

Master Engineer , mount option mechanic mount
Mount concept by Barbarus
http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/ ... kel08a.jpg


Core:

Chaos Dwarf Warriors

Command crew scetch by Strehnschaa
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... GKopie.jpg

Artwork by Kubasa
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/3131 ... ept1yt.jpg

final concept and Artwork by Kubasa based on Prototype miniature from GeOrc
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1741 ... pt31pn.jpg

Prototype miniature by GeOrc
http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/ ... rior05.jpg

Chaos Dwarf Blunderbussiers

concept by COON
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 1141059850

final concept by Barbarus
http://www.directupload.net/show/u/1386/V9lbouCa.jpg


Hobgoblins (with Sneaky Git upgrade, no more SG units than
regular hobgoblins, do not count towards minimum)
Concept by Strehnschaa
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... Kopie1.jpg

Hobgoblin Great Wolf Riders (do not count towards minimum)
no specific concepts until now, see hobgoblins for basic ones


Slave Hordes (25 model 'packs' with a slaver, no choice on unit size)
no specific concepts until now

Special:

Chaos Dwarf Immortals

Concept by Strehnschaa
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 2Kopie.jpg

Concept conversion by Grimstonefire
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/ ... lmodel.jpg

Chaos Dwarf Guardians (religious acolytes with halberds)

first Concept by Barbarus
http://www.directupload.net/show/u/1386/3reUXOdJ.jpg

Concepts by BloodletterGrog
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 1142945733
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 1143231231

Final Concept by Barbarus
http://www.directupload.net/show/u/1386/YVXExpWj.jpg

Possesed
no specific concepts here

Death Rocket
no specific concepts here

Soul Reaper (mobile warmachine)
no specific development here

Battleragers (a unit of large machines on 40mm, unit size 1-3)

Concept by Bloodletter Grog
http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/ ... ikel02.jpg

Prototype conversions by GeOrc
http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/ ... ikel06.jpg
http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/ ... ikel07.jpg
http://www.dunkelelfen-georc.de/Bilder/ ... ikel09.jpg

Rare:

Chaos Dwarf Bull Centaurs

Concept by Barbarus
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 1132042519
http://www.directupload.net/show/u/1386/Zq2k97K7.jpg

Concept by Strehnschaa
http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbulletin/ ... 1132042519

Earth Shaker
no specific concept done here

Hellcannon (2 rare)
look GW original Hellcanon


Special Characters:

Bull Centaur special character
Zhatan the Black
Astrogoth

How’s the fzuture of the hole project?

slowly we’ll try to make an whole army of it . What I haves showed her eis only a small pices of our efforts so far
The baseidea and the primal design of GW is given ist respectand we try to harmonise it.Theb expierience with the firstr conversations shows that we must be able to rely wholy on selfscuplted models to give our creativity as great as possible freespace.

This projects get more and more public, and many talented top professionals has done some work for us. Also we’re gonna to get one or two trophies with our project to pronounce our project.we hope that web could so get more intressted and talented artist to assist us in our project .we have a high standart but we could still get more out of it.

How should it end …

…with a white dwarvf article,maybe an articles in the cronicles ,an Chaosdwarf update or
and thats what we’re hoping to find our ideas and artworks in the future warhammerarmies Chaosdwarfs.I hope uor projekthas apealed to your interest and we get your support. Maybe you want to support us like others and apply at GeOrc@gmx.net

http://www.tabletop-forum.de/vbullet...play.php?f=130


I hope you like the project and our work, feel free to give feedback, critic and comments

Regards GeOrc

[Nagathi]

Looking realy good IMO. I would ove to make this a series of some sort. The Chaos Dwarfs are not looking as if they will get an armybook, and this will most hopefully satisfy many players in our community. I like the idea, and I know you are one to finish sarted projects. I'd love to include this as a ongoing series.

Nagathi
The Sacred Sentinel

[Dictator]

Jeez they need some new life in them like you have represented here!!! OH MY i wish I had talent like you got any more pics up your sleeve to show us?

[Seanzala]

Well, this could be just what I am looking for. I was planning on converting a CD army with the release of the new Dwarves miniatures (after Tale of X Gamers of course) but i didnt like the list that much. I agree with Nagathi on making this an ongoing series. Keep up the good work.

Sean

[Mar-win]

as always GeOrc, great job! that battlerager looks stunningly good! be sure to post more pictures later on!

[Malekith, the witch king]

Woa, there really great O_O;

arn't there rumors of them being released anyway though?

[Sexy beast]

That is one hell of a conversion, Georc. The german discussion on tabletop will take me a bit of time to wrestle through but I will definately follow this project.

From what I heard of the rumors, 2007 will be the year of the chaos Dwarf.

[Racheth_the_slayer]

this looks great i would like a chaos dwarf army maybe to use as DoW in a CoS army

[Dictator]

From what I heard of the rumors, 2007 will be the year of the chaos Dwarf

I didn't think they were coming out at all. I just thought they'd be additions to other chaos armies (hellcannon) I love the new models but I sure was in love with the big hatted dwarfs

[Rasputinii]

Well, well, well. I am really glad you did post some CD stuff, because it is certainly very interesting. As most of you won't know I am also working on a CD range - although I although inconveniently for me GeOrc is also doing so, and premptively showing up my work in the process. So thanks for that .

From my point of view your work is especially interesting. It occurs to me that you are taking a similar line with your re-development in that you have that "Hellcannon" thing going on, but what is more interesting (again from my point of view) is just how differently you are taking things. You are going for a very GWish re-worked CDs. Despite that sounding slightly rude I don't mean it to, what I mean is fluff wise and model wise they seem very GW compatible, whilst my inspiration is much more WARMACHINE in style and theme.

It also strikes me that you are going for a very "Chaosy" style of CDs. Your Battlerager for example has that whole internal daemon thing going on, which is something I am not to keen on including in my work. I wanted to go for a much more Steam Powered mixed with magic feel in my "work". As such I have individuals with portable steam engines and pipes and stuff, and much less of sleek and daemonic armour and such. I am also mixing in a whole stlightly German WW1 edge to my work, especially with the helms (although I haven't gone for the overt helmet spike ). I am also very keen on emphasising the mystery to the CDs, and to their evil - or imperialistic aims. As such I am involving alot of fabric (suitabley tatered), in thee form of robes and coats etc... I am also not as tempted to go for a very "clean" look. That being very angular and organised, as well as well kept and Dwarfy if you like. I wanted a much more "experimental" idea, working very much with practicality before aethetics which in itself has a pragmatic evilness to it. I dunno, I find myself less attracted to the almost clear cut look of each race, how each is very obvious and indvidual, and much more fascinated by the more mysterious and subtle powers of each race, and the more shadowy nature of the evil races. Another recurring theme I am working with is a the idea of pacts between evil races - that the CDs have infiltrated all sorts of other races under false pretenses and are getting raw materials and slave labour in return for products and such - which again fits into the mysterious and pragmatic thing I am going for. If you like I am working with the CDs as if they are the overlords of the Evil armies, the pupet masters able to control and manipulate others - a suitable arrogance and self belief in their superiority if you like.

Furthermore I feel that by not going for a very Aethetic concious army one can immediately seperate the CDs from their more pious relatives who inhabbit the old world.

Cheers,

Ras

P.S. Your stuff is realy, really good!

P.P.S. I wish I sould read German so I could read all 13 pages of that discussion...

[Georc]

Hi all,
berfore I started this project I talked to several studio members on german Games Day. Cuase of this talks I know that Chaos Dwarf are not planned in the next 2,5 - 3 years
In the moment they beginn to think about Dark Elfs that means that it needs up to 2 years until there will something happen in this direction (Please don´t discuss the new dark elf release here!). All rumours in the net say the same, Chaos Dwarfs are not forgotten, but there is nothing planned next time. So we think that we have 1,5 years to finish the project and to show our work to Games Workshop.

@ Nagathi
if you want it as series, do you mean that the thread becomes sticky? If there is really interesst I will update this thread here from time to time. In the moment this project is a national project situated in a german community. That means main language is german and I think this won´t change in future. But we think about making the whole thing more international and we want to invite international artists.
Perhaps this thread gives in future the possibility to get involved.

@ dictator,
if you want more pics, take a look through the german thread. If I continue work here I will avoid that this becomes only a picture book for entertainment. This here is a forum and is a method of conversation, if I feel that there will be no discussion or conversation about the theme I will only post news without pics. For all who will only see pics, here is coolminiornot or the druchii.net album a good address. But please think about me who comes here to have some conversation and becomes no reply cause everyone only want to see some pics, I think this will also be boring for all of you out there.

@ sexy beast
if you understand what´s written there and you are able to discuss with us, you are invited to join us If you can´t write german that´s no problem for me, I don´t know how the team reaction will be, but for myself I would be proud of such an interesst.

@ Ras
We want to continue what GW has shown as a direction. We try to develope what perhaps GW will make in case they release them. Because we will try to influence the upcoming chaos Dwarf theme a bit, we make it on one hand GWish but also with a personal taste and a good mix of the CD aspects:
demonic
technicans
slavers
dwarf culture
asyrian and persian design
We had many CD Veterans in our rows who care that our work will also base on the old style chaos dwarf. We had also Warmachine players who influence in a more steam technic line. We also have some creative inovative ppl who like the idea of demonic machines, these give some influences in this direction. I think it´s a good mix of all who make this project intressting. That was my reason to work with others together and don´t make this project only for myself.

Our main theme is
"Chaos Dwarfs, Lords about demons and machines"

I think there are big diffrences between our point of view, but that´s good so, In our own team this gives the right mix of all. For me it sounds like you give your theme army a much more personal taste and with your WW1 elements you try to go in a completly new direction. For my self I will hold on the persian asyrian look, because I think it´s big challenge to base the design on this culuture and also to give them an evil look. What I don´t like is your idea to make them to puppet masters. I think it´s ok that the armys are seperated this way. No one should be better or worser. I think they should be also part of the balance like other armys. I think you shouldn´t go away this far from the basic idea GW has given here. But I´m looking forward looking at your stuff

Regards GeOrc

[Rasputinii]

Good to hear your thoughts...

Sure I can see your point, I am certainly deviating from GWs main theme, but I'm like that . I want to create a feeling of superiority in each race, right or wrong that fits with a very nationalist theme - the sort of thing that lead to WW1...

[Seanzala]

Ras, do you have any pics of what youve been doing as I want to compare it with GeOrcs work. I dont mean quality but theme. As you have been saying you have gone for a completly different theme and I want to know what to base mine on.

Thanks
Sean

[Nagathi]

@ GeOrc: Yes, I'd like to include this in our Monthly, thus making it a sticky. As long as we can translate the thing into English, it would be fine I guess.


Nagathi
The Sacred Sentinel

[Rasputinii]

Senzela: I wwill have pics, but I am not a fan of WIP greens, because people can't imagine what is going to happen. So once I finish my first I will post pics up (hopefully at the week end).

Cheers,

Ras

[Seanzala]

OK thanks.

I started converting my first Chaos Dwarf last night, from The White Dwarf model. Its turned out better than I expected.

Sean

[Georc]

Hi all,
I have updated the first posting to show the current status.
I have added tons of pics, so enjoy to read through.

Also feel free to give us feedback

Regards GeOrc and ChaosDwarf Revision Team

[Seanzala]

Well Done!!!

Some of those new models look AWESOME!!

Make sure you keep us updated with other updates

Sean

[Elethis]

I am in awe. All the minis so far are extremly nice, capturing both the dwarf and evil side of the race. I particulary enjoyed the concepts by Strehnschaa Barbarus. They seem to find the perfect anatomy and religious zeal/evil which should be present in the minis. I dislike most hints of mutation, instead being a fan of the "daemon possesed" side. Because of this I have always hated the centaurs, but if your minis are going to resemble the concepts, I might change my mind .

Is there any chance you are going to make resin copies of the minis, or would that violate GW's copy-right (I guess I already know the answer, but Gawd!, if you're going to sell resins, I will buy! )?

[Deathwing]

that´s simply awesome!!! can´t wait for reading more bout this project.
GeOrc, spitzenklasse!!! bin schon gespannt wie´s weitergeht!

[Jazperdude]

I just took another look at this topic and the painting on the converted dwarf lord is simply stunning. Would you sharing your nmm recipies?

[The liger]

It's really amazing. The concepts look great, and the prototype models look absolutely awesome. I especially love the dwarf warrior, he really captures the theme very well, and everything looks great. I'm really interested now, especially the Bull Centaurs, I just love those guys. The battleragers look great too. I look forward to following this...!