Modeling Vampire Counts Enchantment Spell Tokens

In addition to the Necromancy spell effects, there are enchantment spells like Van Hels Danse Macabre, and magic items like the Helm of Commandment, which can increase characteristics like Movement, Initiative, or Weapon Skill from 1-3 points. Here's my process for making some Vampire Counts-themed tokens to track these variable bonuses:

 

I wanted to make something that might actually appear on the battlefield, rather than an immersion-breaking dice or a token with a number on it. I settled on a bat familiar, carrying a scroll for its master. For this, I used the bats from the Cursed City bat swarms, and some scrolls from the Skaven plague monk kit. The scroll would have text showing the characteristic to be increased, and the amount of the increase would be indicated by the number of magnetized skulls on the base.

 

First, I separated the pair of bats and used the bottom one since it has intact legs that I could use to hold the scroll. I cleaned up the left wing where the other bat was attached, and I got rid of the hooks on the wing tips.

 

I cut the hand off of the scroll and trilled down the width so it would fit between the bat's feet.

 

 

On the sides of the rolled portion of the scroll, I used a pin vise to create divots that the bat's feet could hook into.

 

 

I had enough bats to make four of these counters– Two for Weapon Skill, one for Movement, and one for Initiative.

 

 

I used some modeling putty to fill in the hole in the bat's chest and sculpt some fur.

 

 

Then, I glues the scroll into its feet, and filled the gap between the scroll and the tail with some putty to create a stronger attachment point.

 

 

Since I needed the bases to accommodate three skulls and magnets, I used 25mm round bases, and decided to trim down the thickness to be more in line with my other spell counters mounted on coins and thick styrene.

 

 

I made a cutter by taping a snap-off knife blade to a piece of 1.5mm thick styrene.

 

 

Holding the base flat against the board, I rubbed it against the blade to cut a groove in the side and maintain a consistent thickness all the way around.

 

 

Rather than attempt to cut all the way through (which would take forever), I made a few passes all the way around to get the cut started, then used some clippers to grip and snap off the strip of plastic.

 

 

This left the bottom of the base a little rough, So I smoothed it on some sandpaper. To grip the base, put a piece of puffy double sided tape on the top, and stuck my finger to it.

 

 

For the skulls, I used Skull Forge Scenics resin skulls, because they are large enough to fit a 1/8-inch magnet in the bottom. The specific magnets I am using are 1/8-inch diameter by 1/16-inch thick.

 

 

Here's the layout– The scroll attached to the base, with the three skulls. The center skull will be glued in place (because the increase will always be at least +1) and the outer two skulls will be magnetized.

 

 

After separating the skulls (leaving a bit of the runner attached as to serve as a handle), I drilled out the bottom, beginning with a small bit, and working up to the 1/8-inch bit so I could better control the placement of the hole.

 

 

I checked the fit of the magnet, and glued it in place, making sure the bottom of the magnet was flush with the bottom of the skull.

 

 

I glued down a layer of sand and then glued the center skull on top. Once the holes for the magnets on either side were drilled out with a 1/8-inch bit, I added sand on the surface around them. 

 

 

Next, I glued the magnets into these holes, flush with the top of the sand so the magnetized skulls would stick and sit level on the surface of the sand.

 

 

The final step of the assembly was to glue the bat and scroll in place and add sand around the remaining area of the base.

 

 

Here you can see how the counters will be used– The bat will be placed near the affected unit, and I'll add the necessary skulls to display the amount of the characteristic bonus. Now, on to the painting!

 

 

'Til next time!