Hi there
I included an army list based on this, for rules I'll soon offer for extended play-testing. I can see me buying some of these figs to go in with my VFW and others. The draft army list notes:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This list is based on the painting The Triumph of Death by Peiter Bruegal of 1562 and thus represents an army of skeletons.
The painting is usually interpreted as depicting the horror of war but also as an allegory for the Black Death or a similar plague.
The large figure of a scythe-armed skeleton rider has been interpreted as the personification of Death, probably reflecting similar imagery as the four riders of the apocalypse.
Skeleton warriors are a popular topic for figure sculptors and collectors.
The cart of skulls and riders with scythes of the painting may have been the inspiration for the classic Minifigs Valley of the Four Winds ‘Living Dead' 25mm range of figures, from 1978, which look a lot like them. The cart can be part of a Logistics base or appear on the battlefield accompanied by riders.
Skeleton riders are mostly armed with a fletched red spear, their mounts are gaunt starving horses.
The vast majority of skeleton infantry use the same weapon as the riders while others use scythe, sword or axe. Only a few skeletons have armour but a number hold white sheet-like garments.
What appear to be devils or deamons of some type inhabit the burning structure of the center of the scene.
Some naval is included as the top of the painting shows ships burning off the shore, presumably they were attacked by skeleton forces.
Pavises represent the massed skeletons fronted by soldiers using what looks like coffin lids as protection.
The logistics base and other stands can be depicted with skeletons taunting or killing humans or perhaps include humans atop wheels on poles.
References: The painting.
Interesting or Plausible enemies:
Later mediaeval western Europeans, doomed human masses.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Regards
David F Brown
