Frogdog

The Frogdog is finally built and on my table!

As a fairly new non-KS-backer, I had to get all my stuff with the retail releases so far, so it took a bit longer for the big girl and her litter to get here (and the EU warehouse surely also did its part in that regard).., but here we are, hopping around, ready to go!

Naturally, as soon as I checked all the contents to make sure nothing was missing, I immediately grabbed the sprues and went to work. Building the models is one of my favorite parts of the hobby at large.

The Frogdog is a beefy expansion and hopefully a further look, next to the Black Knight, at what to expect from other monsters from the Inverted Mountain.

The quick rundown:

The Frogdog – cards, farts and more – malodorous!
2 new armor sets (one regular and one for the unlockable Lvl3 variant) and weapons for each
copper – a new metal resource to collect
story events and omens – wooh, spooky!
a new innovation – mysterious!
new disorders
new Fighting Arts, normal and secret
patterns
rare gear
new terrain – bouncy!
settlement events – I always love these
scout discovery, knowledge and cc card.

Just look at all of that. This gaseous monster is poised to leave an impact right from the get go.., as a new N1 Quarry probably should.

Of course, I can’t say much of anything about the gameplay at this point, not having played it yet, but it looks incredible from my current viewpoint and I will be starting my new campaign in a couple of days!
All this feels especially noteworthy for me personally, as the Frogdog probably was the monster I was least interested in upon first reading about it. Yes – even less than the Gryphon. The fart-mechanic, the visual design, the general appeal to the grossness of it and is habitat.., it just wasn’t really for me.
Now, I don’t think its overall theme started growing on me much more as time has passed, but what it offers mechanically and mini-wise clearly did.

What I can say something about though, are the minis. Whilst I originally tended to hang back a little with building survivors – both to know what I actually wanted on my figures weapons-wise and for more fancy stone face bases to arrive, with this hybrid of modular armor set and “narrative” sculpt, being how stuff is going to get produced, I opted just to go for a sort of spread of everything.

I do still really like the old armor sets and the idea behind them, and whilst this probably is not a hill worth dying on, I find both the fixed poses and somewhat lacking choice for weapons a bit annoying. But I’ll touch on that especially with the Bullfrogdog.

Frogdog Armor Set

After being torn a bit about including the indominable weapons or not as they felt too high tier for a N1 armor to me, I opted against them an put together these four.

Crest Axe and Spiked Buckler – the pose with the raised leg and looking upward felt like none of the larger weapons really worked. But I am happy how this one turned out. Having him look up to the Frogdog is a great little scene.

Long Club and Turbo Tonic – because having the lantern in the arm behind him felt weird. I wanted that wandering monk-kinda feeling for the club, but the arm may be a little too close to his chest.

Grappleclaw and downward Vertebrayonet – I liked the bundled up whip-scythe so I really wanted to use that version. The dagger felt the most appropriate for the open stance she is taking. Project that confidence!

Frogwhistle – When I first found out there was going to be an instrument, I knew I had to make a new member for ‘the Band‘. Initially I tried placing her without the column but that looked like she was failing at break-dancing so I got her back on her dedicated base and decided to call it a deep bow for now. I’m not entirely satisfied with her just yet, I might do some repositioning of her head and arms later on. She is wearing one of the mask-maker masks just like the other members of ‘the Band’.

Bullfrogdog Armor Set

There were a few things I wanted for the Bullfrogdog set, like a halberd wielder and many shields. I also saw the scimitars and couldn’t help but think “dual-wield”. And whilst I did not care for club at first, some decisions were easier than others.

Halberd, lantern and shield – the first mini I built from these four and the first minor gripe: no weapon options without hands. Not that it matters much for the shield on her back, but as a German, I feel obligated to complain about something. I do like the open ‘come-at-me’ poses of some of the higher tier stuff which is why she got the halberd to be stand-off-ish with.

Guillotine tool and shield – one of the two indominable pattern gear. I would have preferred the saw to be honest, but that’s also when I noticed: no right-hand version of the saw? Felt like a strange limitation. Again, a ‘come-at-me’-pose and I tried to have him ready to strike with it like with an axe, as far as the arm and weapon would let me.

Dual-wield scimitar – now this is the one I really don’t get. Why are there only two left-hand options for the scimitar and only two right-hand options for the mace? Sure, they are all heavy (keyword) weapons, but is that really the issue? Anyway, in the end I cut off the hand from one of the clubs and both weapon and hilt from the second scimitar and made it work.

Club and Shield – I initially thought about the saw for this one, but ultimately, after having another look at the weapons went with the club after all. It fit the pose much better and I didn’t have to start carving away at the saw. So, the bonkus got its chance.

Now, my complaining and personal preference aside, the models are beautiful and the increased scale helps the survivors shine a lot in my opinion. I don’t understand why you’d make a set of two left-handed scimitar and two right-handed mace each, but that’s what hobby knives are for, I guess.

I’m looking forward to building these weapons in the game soon, or.., well, trying to build them at least and testing out what works for me and what doesn’t. The Bullfrogdog stuff especially seems real nice, with the Onslaught ability being featured on all weapons (which doubles wound attempt totals if all attacks hit), as well as all the heavy gear synergy.

I can’t wait to fall down a hole with all that stuff.