This is the cauldron from the old Grenadier set “The wizard’s room.” I got this ages ago, and have painted and stripped figures from it many times, but I think this is the last paint job for this one. Before I repainted it, it was pretty silly — I did the face in natural flesh tones, with dark grey smoke and a black cauldron. I think it looks better now.
The level of detail on the face, and the natural look of the smoke, is still really impressive to me, especially considering that it is 32 years old. I can’t think of anyone other than Tom Meier who was doing work this nice, but I’m pretty sure this was done by Andy Chernak, who did some great stuff … and some terrible stuff. Put this one in the great column.
The set came with a circle that you might set the cauldron in, but I like to keep it separate as a magic circle. In hindsight a heat source could be added, like some logs or coals.
I like this paint version, it makes me think the wizard is summoning a spirit, (or maybe a self conjuring of FWG). But I like the old one too it made me think the wizard was summoning a being. But given the scale the former seems right.
Yeah, i always thought of it more as a spirit being conjured … probably for information/advice. But I do like the self-conjuration idea too.
I don’t think that I’ve run across the idea of self-conjuration in any other source, fiction or nonfiction. I wonder now if the writers of FW just made it up because it sort of fit their system, or if there was something in folklore etc. that corresponds to the concept.
That’s excellent.
Thanks!