Grisly End - 'Battered' Casualty Markers for the Bonefish Band

    My 6 orc casualty markers that I created with some of my 28mm 'Ragnarok' miniatures 

One of my quirks (that I freely admit) is that I prefer to have any markers that a miniatures game may require be "scenic." I want them to add -- not detract -- from the look of the battlefield. So, I hate markers like printed MDF tags that say, "Broken" or "Rally" or other such abominations on the tabletop. One of the few things you need to mark in a game of Dragon Rampant! is "Battered" status. This indicates units that have failed a Courage test and must attempt to rally at the start of their next turn to remove the status. 

    Close up of 3 of my admittedly rather grisly orc 'Battered' markers for Dragon Rampant

The obvious (if not the easiest) solution is to paint up casualty markers and plop them down in front a Battered unit. That's what I set out to do for the final batch of miniatures that I would paint for the Bonefish Band, my orc and goblin horde. The problem was that I didn't own any orc casualty figures. I would have to convert them from the extra figures I already owned. The second problem is the Ragnarok line of miniatures that make up the bulk of my army are 28mm metal, which is notoriously harder to convert than plastic. So, that would be step one.

    The hardest part of making the casualty markers is altering metal figs with wire cutters & such

I used wire cutters to snip a half dozen orcs off their metal bases and trim up any excess. Unfortunately, this resulted in a few feet becoming collateral damage. Oh well, now we know what wound made them into a casualty! I tried to re-pose the arms or legs so that they would lay relatively flat on their stomach or back, which was also a challenge. Next, I created rectangular bases for them and flocked them with my usual method. I set each figure down on its base and noted what leg, arm, or head was sitting up off the base more than it should. I built up the corresponding area of the base with tiny rocks and flocking so that it appeared the dying orc had rested his head or legs on a tiny mound of earth. 

    I posed the orcs with the raven fatigue markers I created with for my Saga Mongol army

I also wanted to model the enemy's killing blow, as best I could. Thus, two of the six orc casualties appear to have been speared in the gut or back. Three of them had one or more arrows sticking out of their chest or back. For these, I used my pin vice to drill a hole in the appropriate places on the miniatures. Then I took wire spears and trimmed them to proper arrow or spear length. I attached these to the model itself with superglue. Next, I used two part epoxy to attach the casualty to its flocked base. I added a tiny blob of epoxy to the end of each arrow shaft which I would paint as the feathers or fletching. 

    Most of the orc figs did not lay flat, so I raised the ground flocking to meet the figure in some cases

From that point on, it was all painting, much as I had done with the army proper. I used the same color combinations that I did on the Bonefish Band. I also wanted to make their wounds nice and gory. I painted the wound Iron Wind Metals Blood Red color, liberally splashing it around the wound, running onto its clothes or equipment, and the ground. Once the color dried, I added splotches of bright red to the parts of the wound where the blood would be the freshest. Perhaps I went overboard on the blood? Ha, ha -- you be the judge! After spraying the six casualty markers with Krylon matte clear coat, I had one final step to do. I brushed on clear gloss to the bloodiest part of the wounds to make them appear wet to the eye. Gory enough, yet?

    Another look at all six of the Battered markers - I will likely keep making these for each DR! army

Anyway, I made six of them for my army, which typically fields seven units. I think that should be plenty. If all seven units in my army are Battered at the same time, it might be the time to call the game...ha, ha! I am happy with the markers, and will likely do something similar for future Dragon Rampant armies. 

So, what else is on my painting desk, at the moment? I have five modern figures that I plan on being my "team" for solo games of Majestic 13. This game from Snarling Badger Studios features secret organizations that are quietly fighting a war against alien invaders, largely outside of the public eye. I think I will call my team "Critter Control"...ha, ha! They're supposed to be part of one of the rural, farm-centered organization. So, that seems appropriate humor for them to call themselves pest exterminators! They're coming along nicely and will hopefully be finished in a few days. I have also spray primed two medieval town buildings that I bought at ATC 2025. Hopefully, I will do their 50/50 black acrylic paint and water mix on their surface this evening. So, stay tuned -- lots happening here in February!

MINIATURES Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2026

• Miniatures acquired in 2026: 95
  
• Miniatures painted in 2026: 29

TERRAIN Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2026

• Terrain acquired in 2026: 0
  
• Terrain painted in 2026: 17

SCATTER Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2026

• Scatter acquired in 2026: 2
  
• Scatter painted in 2026: 24