QC3HQ - Winter Contest - CONGRATULATIONS Arch-vile!

[Dr.Goomonkey]

Welcome to the Quarterly Custom Competition Center! This is the revamped home for everyone's favorite custom unit competitions (not including any run before 2016).

The new contest is here! We're revisiting the Phantom Knights, back when they still had Flesh 'N Blood.

And here's a link to the poll, if you are way back here in the OP for some reason.

This time around, we are revisiting the Phantom Knights, and looking at what they were like before they were printed on green, translucent plastic. Other than that, it is up to you to do what you want.

The original figures are Archfiends #21 Ragnara, Psychic Warrior, Dragoneye #08 Stalwart Paladin, and Deathknell #16 Dark Traveler, all from DnD sets from a few years back but they seem to be reasonably available online.

Spoiler Alert!

You can either submit a Unique Squad, or 3 Unique Heroes. Please enter by March 1st so that you can be included in the poll on the second.

Rules:

1. Entries must be sent to me via PM.

2. Keep your entry anonymous while the contest is running.

3. Only 1 entry per member.

4. You may not vote for your own entry as the winner (even if it is the best), and you must vote in the poll if you enter.

5. You must use the miniatures named.

6. You may make either a Unique Squad, or Unique Heroes for these minis.


Other Clarifications:
[spoiler]
All contestants will be included in the poll if there are 15 or fewer entries, if there are 16-19 I will decide on a Top Ten, and if there are 20 or more I will decide on a Top Fifteen. The poll will run for 1 week, after which there may be a runoff poll in the event of a tie.

You may reuse your old customs

You may enter if you do not make a card for your unit. If you submit the entry early enough I will make a card for you. Also, it's pretty easy to make your own, just use @Xorlof 's awesome card creator and one of the many free photoshop programs (I use GIMP, now).

If you want to change your entry you can, just PM me before I post the poll.

Character bios are allowed, and they might tip the scales in your favor so I recommend them.

Anonymity is not that all that serious. You may remember my blunder a few contests back when all of the card URLs had the creators' names in them (actually I did that for a couple before someone mentioned it). Once the poll comes up, I would prefer to have lively conversation than to have intact anonymity. Don't say which is yours, obviously, but also don't worry if you think your attempt to hide which one is yours went terribly.

Further note on anonymity, you could even play online games with them to playtest, just don't share them publicly. Don't make anonymity get in the way of anything at all, it's kind of a joke. I'm actually very serious about how much of a joke it is.

All feedback is welcome.


Contestants:
1. kolakoski
2. GeneralRonaldo
3. cmgames
4. Arch-vile

Contest Archives:

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January 2016 Poll
Winner: @Ninja Status

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March 2016 Poll
Winner: @CJtheMighty

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June 2016 Poll
Winner: @Sam

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September 2016 Poll
Winner: @Dysole

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December 2016 Poll
Winner: @Ixe

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March 2017 Poll
Winner: @obfuscatedhippo

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May 2017 Poll
Winner: @Sam

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July 2017 Poll
Winner: @Zetsubo & @flameslayer93

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flameslayer93's Sir Lancelot

Zetsubo's Thorik the Barbarian

September 2017 Poll
Winners: @BiggaBullfrog & @Lazy Orang

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Bullfrog's:

Orangutan's:

Bio:

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In the heart of Ticalla there is a sickness, a sickness that has been growing since shortly after the War of the Valkyries began. From the depths of the Uncharted Swamp to its south-west, the Marro have grown and spread and tainted everything in their path. The feeble attempts of the Allied Generals to root out and destroy this plague have served only to blight the land with war and bloodshed - once wild, verdant jungle and swampland has been stripped bare of vegetation and wildlife, the roar of guns and the fury of dragons’ breath laying waste to everything. Throughout this time, Hekatiane looked on, her cold fury growing warmer by the day, yet tempered by a knowledge that there was nothing she could do.
No longer. For today, her secret weapon has come to Valhalla.
An Bláth Dúnmharú (The Murdering Flower) - the terror of the Marsh of Éadóchas back in her homeworld of Grymwold, and Hekatiane’s last hope for Ticalla. As much spirit - or demon - as she is plant, she is ageless and deathless, and any who think her vanquished will soon be in for a very unpleasant surprise. She is unconfined by space, and is drawn unerringly to death; all she needs is for one soldier in the opposing army to meet his end, and within moments she’ll be on them, materialising from the earth itself; wrapping them in the organic tendrils she extends beneath the undergrowth; drawing them towards her; devouring them, when they are left alone and helpless. When she is banished, it is only ever transitory; if she can still feel death among you, she will be on you once again.
Human or Elf, Marro or Kyrie, all should take pause: all it takes is one death...

December 2017 Poll
Winner: @The Dewk

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Synergies:

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Synergies Received:

• ARROW GRUTS : Beast Bonding

Bio:

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"Why do we now head northeast? I'm no tactician, but isn't it common knowledge that the most direct route to The Quilato Range is through The Narrows?"

"It is. But have you not heard? General Ironwill, who is a tactician, and shared your opinion, returned last night, badly wounded, with only a third of the advance party he departed with."

"I don't understand; is it not solely Fianteeth who guard that area? While relentless guardians, they are not terribly difficult foes to fell."

"I wish it were so. No, our enemies have summoned a new monstrosity that patrols the air. Ironwill described it as a winged beast, with sharp quills along its body and tail, yet possessing the twisted face of a man. We all know the fearless reputation of the Axegrinders of Burning Forge, but even they could not constrain, much less slay, the terrifying beast amid its flurry of feathers, teeth, and quills. The latter of which they say pierces through armor as if it were cloth! So for now, we trod over the sharp rocks and stench-filled swamp of Malodorr. And I am satisfied with that order."

"As am I!"

Springtime 2018 Poll
Winner: @Astroking112

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Bio:

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Ancient Elven legends tell of an older time on Feylund, one in which nature desperately battled against a still-forming planet in order to secure its foothold. Amongst these warriors of life were the Ents, mighty tree-like creatures that could spread the seed of life across the barren surface. According to the Elves, these Ents traversed the entire length of the planet shortly after its formation, growing and spreading life every step of the way. Unfortunately, no concrete proof has ever been found of the Ents' existence, leading many to believe them to be a mere fairy tale.

Intrigued by these legends, Ullar began to look to the distant past, to see if they were true. None of the other generals were privy to what he saw, but the sudden appearance of Arboris, a creature who grew to monstrous heights when left undisturbed, indicated that the general had indeed found something…

Summertime 2018 Poll
Winner: @OmegaPegasus

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Autumn 2018 Poll
Winner: @Arch-vile

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Bio:

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"Legend holds that Giants once walked Valhalla. They would gather here during the depths of winter to carve up their hunting lands for the next year. While no Giants have been seen for countless ages, their bones are still rumored to be buried in this area." -*RotV Master Set

Long thought extinct, Ullar has provided refuge for the last of Valhalla's Giants. Their numbers are few, so when one Giant falls, the ferocity of his brethren increases.

New Years 2019 Poll (Runoff)
Winner: @superfrog

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Spring 2019 Poll
Winner: @Lazy Orang

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Bio:

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Excerpt from the vox-text Flora and Fauna of the Eastern Frontier, composed by Zaeus of the Primadon Applied Sciences Bureau. Please be aware, therefore, that the Primadon Science Laboratory 32 hour clock has been used, and that all times / measurements recorded are scientifically calculated for absolute precision, in accordance with PrimaGov requirements:

We made contact with the Gorillinator scouts at 25:43 hours and 6 seconds - they had been exploring the Cik-Cyakk Swamp for months, reading the terrain, keeping out of the way and attempting to predict the ease of Marro advance through this territory. The news they brought was dire - the Marro had finally begun to advance deep into the marsh, already annexing 36.8 percent of the territory for the Hive Mind. The scouts had done their best to avoid direct combat and simply observe, but one of the three had been lost. The two that remained, however, told the most amazing tale.
When the Marro first entered the territory, they encountered fierce resistance from the volucris suicidiae, mostly due to one queen organism who ruled over a hive at the border of the swamp. Reports indicate that this queen showed immense cunning and intelligence, seeming to lead in combat and formulate strategies in a way that seemed unexpectedly advanced. She would be near the thick of combat, sending out her drones in force to dispatch small groups of Marro invaders, then, once the Marro had been picked apart, she would fly up and fertilise their corpses with larvae. In larger battles, she would fertilise Marro bodies in the midst of combat, allowing felled drones to be replaced in the midst of battle. By using the Marro themselves to replenish her forces, she was able to keep her hive at maximum battle-readiness for longer than could be reasonably expected. She even displayed as yet undocumented behaviours that, while disquieting, proved quite effective; when the Marro had her wounded in battle, she often ate her own larvae which she’d only just deposited, rejuvenating herself through their sustenance and allowing her to survive at the cost of her larvae. From a long-term perspective, making such sacrifices to keep the queen alive is an effective survival strategy, however distasteful it may be to civilised minds. The scouts gave her a name - Atharm, an old Primadon name meaning ‘she who is without sentiment’.
Despite her best efforts, though, she could not win this war - her drones were not the only ones who could reproduce with great efficiency, and the Marro always had reserves. She held the Marro at bay for 9 days, 27 hours and 43 minutes before falling, losing an average of 0.236 miles of ground a day - a rate slower than some of our outer colonies have achieved. Eventually, though, she was cornered by a vanguard of Marro Stingers, with none of her larvae nearby to sustain her. Our scouts report, however, that they didn’t see her die. Instead, just before the Stingers opened fire, there was a blinding flash of light, and, once it cleared, she was gone. I would wonder if it were some other evolutionary defence mechanism we haven’t identified yet, were it not for reports of similar occurrences among soldiers on our borders. Something strange is happening, mark my words.
After she disappeared, the remainder of her hive was exterminated within 12 minutes and 46 seconds, and no other queens have proven able to hold out for more than 2 days against the Marro advance. At this rate, we estimate that the the volucris suicidiae will be rendered extinct within 2 months and 17 days, and without this lethal species causing the Cik-Cyakk Swamp to be virtually uninhabitable, our eastern borders will be compromised. Strategic reorganisation advised.

Bio:

Spoiler Alert!

Excerpt from the vox-text Flora and Fauna of the Eastern Frontier, composed by Zaeus of the Primadon Applied Sciences Bureau:

As we ventured deep into the Cik-Cyakk Swamp, we encountered the most remarkable species of insect. Known as volucris suicidiae, or ‘winged suicide insects’, they grow remarkably large, and rather quickly too - properly cultivated larvae can develop into fully grown examples of the species in mere minutes. This is a necessity, as their strategy of reproduction is rather brutal. You see, each volucris suicidium is born with a large, spear-like structure, which is so cleverly attached, and is carried in such a way, that unless you look very closely it easily passes as the real deal. This ‘spear’ is used to pierce their prey, injecting enough toxins to fell most creatures, but in doing so, the spear breaks away from the body of the volucris suicidium, leaving a gaping wound which results in the death of the insect. Such weapons, though admittedly on smaller scales, are far from unheard of among the insectoid kingdom, but are typically used as weapons of last resort, to defend the hive, and I’ve never seen one so unbelievably well disguised. The volucris suicidium is, to my knowledge, unique in that it actively seeks out organisms to slay in this way, ensuring its own demise in the process.
The average volucris suicidium - the drone - is exceptionally short-lived, lacking any biological directive to eat once it has passed the larval stage of development, though the queen organisms defy this standard. The role of the drone is purely to kill other organisms, and to die in the process. In doing so, they allow the queen to deposit the next generation of larvae within the host corpse, which will provide them with warmth, protection and sustenance for the exceptionally short time it takes for those that survive to develop into fully grown drones. Then, the hunt will begin once more with the freshly developed drone. It is an evolutionarily ingenious, fascinating, yet fundamentally depressing and pointless existence.

Summertime 2019 - Chops Appetizer Poll
Winner: @Lumovanis

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Bio:

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The people of Kirv have a saying; never answer a knock at the door after sundown.

Reanimated hands scurry through the streets at night, searching for more victims to add to their ranks. They leave no corner unchecked and no stone unturned, for such is the will of their dark master.

Autumn 2019 - CHOPS Entrée Poll 1, Poll 2, and Final Poll
Winner: @mac122

Spoiler Alert!

Pleocyemata


Bio:

Spoiler Alert!

None knew how long Pleocyemata dwelled in the Valhallan swamps. The ancient crustacean was content to live out his days in peace, munching on the occasional fish or amphibian or even larger land creature that had the misfortune to become lost in the swamp. No malice. Just sustenance. Peace. The Marro changed all that. Their Hives upset the balance of the swamp. Armies muddied the already dark waters, while weapons manufacture poisoned them. If only their gangly bodies were good eating, perhaps he could have tolerated them. But, no. These spoilers must be destroyed. An Aquillan squad, surrounded by a Marro ambush, witnessed first-hand Pleocyemata's wrath. One by one, Stinger, Drudge, Divider, returned to the swamp that spawned them, dragged down by huge pincers. Saved from certain doom, the Aquillans were determined to inform their general of a potential ally.

New Years 2020 - CHOPS Dessert Finale Poll
Winner: @Arch-vile

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Thaelenk Snowman

Springtime 2020 Poll
Winner: @Ericth74

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Warforged Guard Dog

These contests approved by and in loving memory of @

[Pumpkin_King]

Oh nice, I remember participating in a bunch of similar contests several years ago, I'll have to pop in for the next one!

[Lazy Orang]

This doesn't seem to have been updated in a while, @Dr.Goomonkey .

[Dr.Goomonkey]

Ask and you shall receive.

Actually, I was contemplating moving the announcements for new contests here, instead of starting a new thread each time... I may just do that for the next one, although there is a large part of my brain that rejects the notion of changing the process at this point. I do like how the ARV runs things, so I might borrow that from them.

[Dr.Goomonkey]

I figured I should announce that the next contest will be announced in this thread, and the title of this thread will be changed to make it work a little better for that announcement, and that announcement and title change will be coming before you know it (Sunday, most likely).

[superfrog]

Hmm. Looks like this thread is pretty sticky.

[Astroking112]

An excellent sticky choice. I always forget how to find this one, but it has some great units in it.

[Dr.Goomonkey]

Wow, this almost feels bigger than getting the announcements on the front page. I feel like a big dog for being such a scrawny goomonkey.

[Dr.Goomonkey]

What better way to christen our new HQ than with a competition making everyone's favorite type of unit: common heroes? I'll tell you what better, having a brand new, full scale, double tier contest! That's right, you will be making a Unique Hero for the masked miniature, and a Common Hero for the other miniature. (See, I used pictures from two different angles, so it looks like two. Oh, you already knew that was the same miniature? Hmm... Okay.)

Spoiler Alert!

The figure for the Common Hero is Kraul Winged Warrior...



...the Unique Hero is Kraul Death Priest...



...and both are from the DnD set Waterdeep: Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

Entries must be in by April 14, as the poll will go up sometime on the 15th. I thought 3 weeks instead of two would be good for making two units.

Rules:

1. Entries must be sent to me via PM.

2. Keep your entry anonymous while the contest is running.

3. Only 1 entry per member.

4. You may not vote for your own entry as the winner (even if it is the best), and you must vote in the poll if you enter.

5. You must use the miniatures named, probably.


Other Clarifications:

You may reuse your old customs

You may enter if you do not make a card for your unit. If you submit the entry early enough I will make a card for you. Also, it's pretty easy to make your own, just use @Xorlof 's awesome card creator and one of the many free photoshop programs (I use GIMP, now).

If you want to change your entry you can, just PM me before I post the poll.

Character bios are allowed, and they might tip the scales in your favor so I recommend them.

If you know of another miniature that is obviously the same species as these, let me know. I may let you use it! If that happens I will share the miniature in this thread. Don't share the miniature in this thread for the sake of anonymity.

Anonymity is not that all that serious. You may remember my blunder a few contests back when all of the card URLs had the creators' names in them. Once the poll comes up, I would prefer to have lively conversation than to have intact anonymity. Don't say which is yours, obviously, but also don't worry if you think your attempt to hide which one is yours went terribly.

Previous Competitions' Contestants:

@Tiranx @JaesShurrig @Taeblewalker @The Dewk @aksisu11 @NecroBlade @capsocrates @Scytale @DewNoHarm @WarBeast @Toogwick_tuk @Confred @Ninja Status @Dysole @JC McMinis @orgsbane @heroscaper2010 @Ixe @obfuscatedhippo @Lazy Orang @IshMEL @CJtheMighty @Sam @BiggaBullfrog @kolakoski @Zetsubo @TheAverageFan @flameslayer93 @HEROSCAPERMTL @Astroking112 @Dark_Stranger @mac122 @Heroscaper101 @Yodaking @superfrog

[mac122]

Here are transparent background PNGs of the figures and the hit zones if anyone can use them.

Spoiler Alert!

[Arch-vile]

Cool idea for a contest! This will be tougher, designing two cards instead of one.

[Lazy Orang]

What size are the figures?