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Hello friends!
It’s finally that time of the month again! We invite you to watch the trailer showcasing what’s coming next month!
Clad in crude, spiked iron armor, the Trolls of Faldorn laid siege to the Iron Keep with both fury and cunning, claiming it in the name of their chieftain, now self-proclaimed Duke Rotgaal II.
This fearsome set features the most imposing war-trolls you’ll ever add to your collection, complete with terror bird cavalry and hundreds of possible combinations through our modular weapon system.
The set includes a four-armed hero, a two-headed warlord wielding the keep’s gate as a shield, and a colossal siege troll carrying a battering ram into battle! Not to be missed, the enigmatic Huldra, a mysterious troll variant who, like a succubus, lures the unwary into deadly traps within the forest.
Why Trolls
Trolls have always been my favorite “enemies” in fantasy RPGs. Every time I play a new game, the first thing I look forward to is seeing how trolls are portrayed, they’re just fascinating. Ancient as the world itself, dwelling in dark forests and deep caves, regenerating from every cut and wound, unkillable unless burned by fire, huge noses, crazy hairs and giant tusks; I’ve always found them incredible.
In our setting, Mundus, I wanted my trolls to be more than mindless brutes.
Unlike the Svartwood Trolls of Skutagaard, who are wise and in tune with nature, these are the Trolls of Rotvar: ambitious, cunning, grim, and grotesque. They crave power, iron, and dominion, seeking to rise above the humans of Rotvar and claim the world of men as their own.
You didn’t expect Terror Birds as cavalry for the grotesque trolls, did you?
Being fully modular, they can be used either as standalone monsters (without saddle) or as fierce mounts for your other sets!
I can’t really say I have a favorite model this month, I’ve truly enjoyed sculpting every single one of them.
But I must admit, Duke Rotgaal II, the chieftain of this band of War-Trolls, was something special to bring to life. He’s massive on his 50mm base, yet next to the Siege Troll, this month’s epic boss, he almost looks small!
But if I really had to choose a favorite character, it would probably be the Huldra.
In our setting, the Huldras are very special trolls; blessed by Arba, only one is born among countless others, and she bears the appearance of a graceful, almost dryad-like creature.
In fact, in our upcoming RPG, trolls are actually one of the oldest kinds of fey and have deep connection with the woods.
Like succubi and harpies, Huldras are alluring trolls who lure the unwary into deadly traps, making her the perfect fit for the “pinup” slot of this set.
If you support us through Guildhall, this month’s Guildhall Exclusives are common female trolls: towering 50mm brutes, powerful and rugged, just as trolls should be.
You can see them in the trailer or in the picture above, to the right. They are modular and come with and without helmets!
The Making Of
First of all, I want to say that this set has been an absolute blast to create. It took quite a while to sculpt, larger models always do, since they demand extra detail (otherwise they just end up looking like oversized goblins, lol); but I’m incredibly happy with their grotesque yet chivalrous appearance.
I recorded myself on the very first day of work, sculpting the first troll of this set from scratch. I truly love sculpting, and I honestly couldn’t imagine living without it, so I hope you’ll enjoy watching the full video (8h Uncut at x4 Speed).
With the rise of AI-generated models, I hope my videos can inspire new artists to pick up digital sculpting and create with their own hands.
This video is for those who believe that the true joy of creation and the passion for craftsmanship come from the artistic process itself; It takes practice and patience, yes, but only through that journey does the result reward us with genuine satisfaction, the kind that makes us truly happy.
Since many have asked me lately what I think about automatically generated sculpts, I wanted to share my point of view.
For me, having models created as if by magic is like being told "you’ve won" a sport competition you never trained for, or even took part in.
So yes, I’ll keep sculpting every Artisan Guild model by hand, because this is what I believe in, and what I truly enjoy doing.
And if you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for your time, your effort, and your continued support.
See you soon with this new release in November!
🌿 November’s Legacy Set for the Master Collector Tier:
Get ready to explore the wild with Set 09 – Deepwood Alfar 🌲🗡️
Originally released in January 2020 — now back for a limited time!
Cheers!
Andrea Tarabella
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