Guide to Painting the Red Guard (From Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion)

Time for something a little different! I know this is a Gloomhaven strategy and tactics blog, but due to lockdown and the pandemic it's difficult to get Gloomhaven games going.  So instead we will do a painting guide for the Jaws of the Lion - Red Guard :) 

Painted minis improve the Gloomhaven experience by adding color to the grey blobs representing your adventuring mercenary. It's a worthy undertaking to splash that color on and make the experience awesome for the entire group. 

The Red Guard in all it's glory @jackogoeswacko4smackos

For this guide I use the Citadel range of miniature acrylic paints. Any acrylic based miniature paint will do, Reaper, Vallejo etc.   

Step 1. 

Base the miniature. If a bit of modelling sand or cut off corkboard can add some terrain features to the miniature. Apply PVA glue to stick it together and let it dry. 

Step 2. 

Prime the miniature. I've primed it Mechanicus Standard Grey with a highlight of Corax White to give it a Zenithal highlight. This is not strictly necessary as simply priming it grey will get the job done. Priming the miniature is essential to make sure the acrylic paint sticks to the miniature.

Let the primer dry for 30 minutes or so. 

 

Step 3. 

Base coat the miniature. Here is use Khorne Red as the basecoat for the main armor plates, don't worry if it's a little messy we will clean it up later. I use Doombull brown to coat the cloak to differentiate a little. We will add some red on the cloak later to match the art. I coat the metals in Leadbelcher.

Step 4. 

Wash and shade. We want to apply some shade to give the miniature some depth. Apply Carroburg Crimson on the armor and cloak. Nuln oil on the metals. Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of this step :(

Step 5. 

Time for highlights. Get a brighter red, I used Evil Sunz Scarlet and go over the raised edges of the armor and cloak. The armor plates are layered and you will need to use a thin brush to go over each of the edges. The metals are highlighted with Runefang steel and Balthazar gold.   

Step 6. 

Weathering. Fighting in Gloomhaven is a messy ordeal, noone comes out with their gear clean. Coat the base with Zandri dust, if you're a little messy that's ok, the Red Guard does get his boots dirty afterall. Put a little bit on edges of the cloak too, it gets dirty during all the fighting.

Next we wash the base with Casandora Yellow. Once dry, drybrush the base with Ushabti Bone. Brush a little on the raised edges of the cloak as well to give the weathering some depth. 

... and here's the final product!

Final product!