Help me finish this base!

[MaliGn]

Spent time last night working on the base for my word bearers warlord, i've adapted my normal basing method to create this set of stairs. I would normally just edge with black and be done, which is what I have done here, I'm just wondering if anyone has any bright ideas for other things I could do with the quite large solid block of black that this has created.

Ps. Internet cookies for anyone who can I'd the chapter for the marine helmet.

[Kolgrim DeathHowl]

That looks super cool as is!

[Closet Skeleton]

A little dirt or rubble, maybe some pooling blood dripping down? It looks too pristine for a warzone but it could be a inner sanctum the word bearers have just penetrated so that's not a big issue.

[Bryan Blaire]

Emperor's Spears helmet looks good! It should have some blood running from that entry hole in the helm maybe.

 

Definitely some blood, dirt, etc., on that base, or some cracks running through the tiles. If it's a Word Bearers' sanctum, maybe some candles and a few Chaos runes on the tiles (or the runes could be floating and glowing in the black areas); if it's a Spears' held territory, then you could do some Nemetese Ogham runes on the tiles (or floating, maybe glowing, in the black areas).

 

You could possibly do some green and purple flames licking up the sides of the black, or if you are really ambitious, you could carve another hole like you did for the skull and put a daemon's arm (whichever god the character that will be on the base worships or whatever daemonic group is currently supporting this Bearers' coven should be represented) coming out - paint green and purple (or a riot of colors) spilling out of the hole in little wisp-like flame strands to make it look like a Warp portal is beginning to open and let the daemon through.

[Marshal Reinhard]

Less is more in this case.

 

Like others have suggested, I'd at most add some dirt, or a blood splatter, or scorch marks, something that catches the eye and breaks up the pattern, but not more than that.

[MaliGn]

That looks super cool as is!

Thanks, leaving it as it is, is an option I am considering.

A little dirt or rubble, maybe some pooling blood dripping down? It looks too pristine for a warzone but it could be a inner sanctum the word bearers have just penetrated so that's not a big issue.

The rest of the army are on similarly clean tiles so I'm reluctant to change too much, although one or two units do have a bit more going on due to the way the models themselves work - raptors for example.

Emperor's Spears helmet looks good! It should have some blood running from that entry hole in the helm maybe.

Definitely some blood, dirt, etc., on that base, or some cracks running through the tiles. If it's a Word Bearers' sanctum, maybe some candles and a few Chaos runes on the tiles (or the runes could be floating and glowing in the black areas); if it's a Spears' held territory, then you could do some Nemetese Ogham runes on the tiles (or floating, maybe glowing, in the black areas).

You could possibly do some green and purple flames licking up the sides of the black, or if you are really ambitious, you could carve another hole like you did for the skull and put a daemon's arm (whichever god the character that will be on the base worships or whatever daemonic group is currently supporting this Bearers' coven should be represented) coming out - paint green and purple (or a riot of colors) spilling out of the hole in little wisp-like flame strands to make it look like a Warp portal is beginning to open and let the daemon through.

First off one cookie. (And there is blood effects coming out of the entry hole, not sure it's easy to see in the photo as it is at the bottom and the trident gets in the way a bit.

There's some interesting ideas in there, I am toying with the idea of painting runes on the black section, or possibly flames or possibly the word bearers symbol.

Less is more in this case.

Like others have suggested, I'd at most add some dirt, or a blood splatter, or scorch marks, something that catches the eye and breaks up the pattern, but not more than that.

I'm inclined to agree, but then the figure himself should break up the pattern a bit. So I've test fitted him to see if that offers any different insights.