Vash113 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 [size=5; background-image:url(http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/hq2.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: 8px 2px; padding: 12px 8px 12px 8px; border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-left: 0 auto; text-align: left; color: #fff; text-indent:50px; font-size:130%; width:50%;">Frost Blades: Relics of the Wolves[/size] Frost Blades are the legendary unique close combat weapons of the Space Wolves, but considering their renown there is a lot of confusion around what exactly Frost Blades are, how they're modeled and how to paint them. This article will attempt to adress these concerns and in that order. What Are Frost Blades The first question is, what exactly are Frost Blades? Well that answer is surprisingly simple though often overlooked and comes from page 15 of Codex: Space Wovles 3rd Edition: Frost blade or Frost axe. These are one of the most prized ancient weapons owned by the Space Wovles Chapter. Each was handcrafted by a Master Iron Priest and they utilise the diamond-sharp fangs of the Ice Kraken as the teeth of their chainsaw blades. So there you go, a Frost Blade is nothing more than a chainsword or axe where the chainsaw blades are made from the teeth of Ice Kraken. A surprisingly simple answer though in reality a Frost Blade can be any sort of Chain weapon not necessarily restricted to axe and sword. How Are Frost Blades Modeled The next step to Frost Blades is how to model them. Do you stick with just any old chainsword or do you do something else? Well there are multiple ways to go about it, you could stick with a plain old Chainsword and make due with that, but personally I find that boring. Games Workshop does have a couple examples of Frost Blades we can look at[b; background-image:url(http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/hq2.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: 8px 2px; padding: 12px 8px 12px 8px; border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-left: 0 auto; text-align: left; color: #fff; text-indent:50px; font-size:130%; width:50%;">Ragnar Blackmane[/b] http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/40k%20Images/m1240644_99060101063_SWRagnarmai-1.jpgRagnar Blackmane is an obvious example of a Space Wolf with a Frost Blade, Ragnar's sword is a very cool double bladed design with a nice fancy hilt, a bit above the average modeler's abilities. However it does give some interresting ideas for anyone attempting to do a Frost Blade, I in particular like the double edged design. Space Wolf Captain http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/40k%20Images/m1240774_99060101251_SWcaptainwo-1.jpgThis model is fairly antiquated but given it's an HQ it's sword is most likely meant to be a Frost Blade not just a standard Chainsword, the design is simple above all else and mostly no different from a normal Chainsword of the day. So we have one elaborate version and one plain version, like I said before the plain works but doesn't look overly gripping so perhaps we should move on. On the other hand cool looking chainblades don't have to be difficult or complex to come by, just something different from what your army normally uses works perfectly fine. A couple obvious examples are: Forge World Chain Axeshttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/40k%20Images/chain-axes-store-1.jpgOrk Choppa's and Big Choppa'shttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/40k%20Images/B50-1221-1.jpgKhorn Berserker weaponshttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/40k%20Images/chainaxes-1.jpgAll of those stock with perhaps some of the more spikey bits shaved off would work fine as Frost Blades, though a more complex and conversion intensive solution is also possible. Simply chopping up a bunch of Chainswords can easily yield various different designs of Frost Blades, here are a few I did for my Wolves: Wolf Lord with Frost Sword http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/Space%20Wolves/IMG_0212-1.jpg Terminator Wolf Guard Battle Leader with Frost Axe http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/Space%20Wolves/IMG_0215-1.jpgBoth weapons were made simply by taking several Chainswords and chopping them up. The Frost Sword was based on a Space Wolf Power Sword hilt from the Space Wolf Accessory Sprue and the Frost Axe is built around two of the flat backed Space Wolf Icons also from the Accessory Sprue. With a little patience, green stuff and cutting turning basic chainswords into all new weapons is entirely possible though can certainly be tricky to do for those not too experienced with modeling. In that case simply using a standard chainblade of some kind that's just a little different looking from the average weapons in your army can work suitably as well. Remember though Frost Blades aren't restricted to just swords and axes. Halbard's, Glaives and basically any weapon that can have rotating chainblade teeth works. Now that you've modeled your Frost Blade, you are probably wondering how to paint it. There are several schools of thought on this matter, since we really don't know what Ice Kraken teeth look like it's really up to the painter to decide. Some prefere a bone look, others like myself prefere a sort of ice blue color and still others do a regular metal color. If your Frost weapon isn't modeled much different from normal chainblades, giving the teeth and/or the weapon casing a different color from the norm can help to differentiate it from the other not so special weapons in your army. For instance if the chainswords in your army are painted black with silver teeth, painting your Lord's Frost Blade's teeth bone white with a red casing can make it obvious it's unique even from gaming distance. You can further make the weapon unique by painting runes or words onto the blade, like "Russ" or "Wolves" or just a random collection of runes from the Codex. However you do it the important thing is to make your Frost Blades noticeably different from your regular Chainswords, if for nothing else to make it easier on your poor opponent who already has to contend with getting whooped by the Sons of Fenris. Here's a good example of the frosty blue paint scheme by DGC:http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/40k%20Images/DSCN0152-1.jpgConclusion Well there you have it, hopefully for you Long Fang's this has been an interresting read and for you Blood Claws I hope you've learned something usefull. Frost Blades are in my opinion among the coolest pieces of wargear in the game and hopefully this article has helped show why. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Mage Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I like it. Maybe some other pictures of peoples painted stuff if you can get permission. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1891360 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Bjoern Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Well done, Vash. A round of ale on me. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1891362 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendrik Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 *takes the ale* that's quite a nice article, i paint my frostblades like some sort of powerweapons, just to make it clear to my opponent and make them interchangebla for other weapons=) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1891605 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ullr Direfang Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 i paint my power weapons with the "icey" glow to them, and some time s use them as frost weapons. i plan to make/buy chain axes and maby carve "ice kraken" teeth into some of the power weapos i have. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1891615 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vash113 Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Glad you like guys and thanks for the ale. @ Grey Mage -Maybe, got any examples you can think of? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1891791 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Mage Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Nothing in particular man.... just figured there might be something in the painting area etc etc. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1893337 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaveriK Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Well done! a great reference to a great Space Wolf treasure. Another ale to you wolf brother Vash113 :D keep up the great work! http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...howtopic=122887 here's one of Wolf Brother DGC beautifully painted example of a Frost Blade Well, here's my first attempt at a Frost Blade http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s47/DGC_album/DSCN0152.jpg http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s47/DGC_album/DSCN0151.jpg Pretty similar to the wat Vash113 described but without going longer. The way I have tried to put across 'Frost Blade' was to paint the teeth blue upto white. Catcha - DGC Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1893520 Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tiger Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 probably would of mentioned in the modeling part that even though it says frost blades/Axe's, they could be modeled as anything you want, spears, mace's, halberds etc Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1893971 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vash113 Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 probably would of mentioned in the modeling part that even though it says frost blades/Axe's, they could be modeled as anything you want, spears, mace's, halberds etc I thought that was already in there, I guess not, though I don't see how you could make a Frost Spear or Mace. Halbard's yes but that sort of falls under axes just with a longer handle. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1894269 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendrik Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 a spear would work like a glaive, a mace, now that would be hard because off all the edges which would all require their own motorsystem+ the fact that a mac eis an impact weapon Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1894419 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bran Scalphunter Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Perhaps the mace head is studded with the Kraken's teeth, basically making a big ass spiked club to smack someone with. Ah, here's an image of one to show you what I'm talking about! http://www.kultofathena.com/images/YK0413.jpg Where's my money man?! Where's my money?! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1894456 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendrik Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 well i thought the frostblades were effective because of their movement and not because of their natural strenght, the blades do move, don't they? that example didn't came to mind when i thought about the mace, i was thinking more about the one i have my mace, but mine has a diffrent handle Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1894593 Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tiger Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 probably would of mentioned in the modeling part that even though it says frost blades/Axe's, they could be modeled as anything you want, spears, mace's, halberds etc I thought that was already in there, I guess not, though I don't see how you could make a Frost Spear or Mace. Halbard's yes but that sort of falls under axes just with a longer handle. just paint the spear tip in a funky frosty blue, like on this warjack http://www.coolminiornot.com/212293 there yah go, instant frost spear/axe/blade/halbered, or have it emanating from the weapon in the case of maces, sure it ain't got teeth, but its "special" so it don't need no teeth B) afterall its your weapon to do what you like, it just gives more options than "special toothed chains o doom" Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1895319 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vash113 Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share Posted February 24, 2009 Eh that's not a Frost Blade though then is it? A Frost Blade really should be a chain weapon of some kind, just painting a spear blue doesn't cut it IMO. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1895532 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Wolf Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 See, this is where I disagree with the fluff. If they're the teeth of Kraken...then the tooth itself should be the blade. After all, aren't the Kraken a huge repitillian/fishy/snakey/squid thing? Surely chainsword teeth would be tiny teeth for a kraken? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1895672 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vash113 Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share Posted February 24, 2009 See, this is where I disagree with the fluff. If they're the teeth of Kraken...then the tooth itself should be the blade. After all, aren't the Kraken a huge repitillian/fishy/snakey/squid thing? Surely chainsword teeth would be tiny teeth for a kraken? Squid things yes but squid don't have huge teeth, just small ones on their tentacles at most even a huge Kraken wouldn't produce teeth big enough to make into sword's or spears, maybe a small knife but... that's about it I'd imagine. Besides the real cutting power comes from the chainsaw's spinning motion I'd imagine. Otherwise the use of kraken teeth isn't much more usefull than just a normal power field. Power Spears is one thing but Frost Spears? I wouldn't think so. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1895675 Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tiger Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Eh that's not a Frost Blade though then is it? A Frost Blade really should be a chain weapon of some kind, just painting a spear blue doesn't cut it IMO. why not?, where in the RULES does it state it must be modeled as a chain weapon?, the RULES state its a power weapon with +1str, nothing more, its like the relic blade argument where everyone kept thinking fluff equaled rules Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1895703 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max_Dammit Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 In the end you can do what you want but fluff states its a chain weapon with kraken tooth, But there not being a bigg enoug kraken to make a sword from a tooth, i feel there is, but in the end its only a game and there is no real truth. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1895722 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Wolf Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Arggghhhhhh!! Max stop with the reality!!! lol B) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1895724 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bran Scalphunter Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 I dunno, I actually like the idea of the tooth itself being the weapon. Crysknife anyone? <_< *looks up to see several Freman warriors circling around* Aw zogg... *grabs ES and Frost Bat* But it makes for an interesting idea, a massive powered fang. I can see a Wolf wielding one like a polearm. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1895754 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vash113 Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share Posted February 24, 2009 why not?, where in the RULES does it state it must be modeled as a chain weapon?, the RULES state its a power weapon with +1str, nothing more, its like the relic blade argument where everyone kept thinking fluff equaled rules That however is justifying fluff with rules which is equally foolish. In the fluff a Frost Blade is always a chain weapon, there's nothing indicating any other form of the weapon so while rules wise you can model it however you want and it be "counts-as" fluff wise it's not a Frost Blade but something else entirely. The Spear of Russ is the only weapon in the fluff made with a tooth for a blade, as I said before I don't see it feasable that such a weapon could by copied or replicated by anyone but the Emperor who made it in the first place and hunted the creature the tooth came from himself. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1895929 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durfast Spiritwolf Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 We know that the whelp Ragnar carries a frost blade and it looks like a chain sword to me... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-1896570 Share on other sites More sharing options...
slmellon Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 In the end you can do what you want but fluff states its a chain weapon with kraken tooth, But there not being a bigg enoug kraken to make a sword from a tooth, i feel there is, but in the end its only a game and there is no real truth. Here Here, Heres your ALE! Its just a game based in a fantasy world 30 something thousand years in the future. Screw it make it out of a tyranid scything talon, who cares. I am glad i did a search, was wondering what is was made of. And i just read the dex again 2 nights ago, i knew i saw it somewhere. Now if this is the case, then Ragnar is not holding a frost blade but a serrated power sword. Although, could there teeth be big enough to make a whole sword out of, it is still just a fantasy world. Could you make one from an eviscerator? Is there a model out with one to get it from? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-2078413 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baluc Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Russ, frost blade on the cover of prospero burns looks nothing like a chain sword nor does ulrik, or Logan's to be honest... And kraken have "teeth" on there tenticals and in their maw could one of these not be used to craft a sword or axe head? http://www.santharia.com/.../kraken_giant.jpg Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/161103-frost-blades-relics-of-the-wolves/#findComment-2078442 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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