Lurkers in the Dark

Hobby Goals - January 26

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Monthly Hobby Update: Learning Contrast Paints, Nighthaunts and Underworlds Goals

A new year brings with it some new hobby goals. Primarily, I want to learn how to paint with Contrast paints, not slap-chop, but using them as they were intended, as a base combined with a shade. Secondly, I want to continue painting all the Warhammer Underworlds warbands, along with repainting some of my favourites. Thirdly, I want to improve at Warhammer Underworlds and maybe even win a tournament. Fourthly, I want to try playing Warhammer Age of Sigmar Spearhead. Finally, I want to grow this blog to 250,000 views.

Hobby Goals for the Year
  • Learn how to use Contrast paints properly, as a base plus shade
  • Continue painting all Warhammer Underworlds warbands and repaint some favourites
  • Improve my Underworlds gameplay and aim for a tournament win
  • Try playing Age of Sigmar Spearhead
  • Grow this blog to 250,000 views

Thank you to everyone who has been along for the ride so far.

Painting Update: Learning Contrast Paints on Nighthaunts

As mentioned, one of my main goals this year is to learn how to paint using Contrast paints. I ended 2025 watching a lot of YouTube videos to better understand how the paints work. In particular, I spent a lot of time watching the Warhipster, who has produced many excellent and easy to follow tutorials.

With that knowledge, I picked up the necessary supplies and raided my loft for some suitable miniatures.

I decided to start with a new set of Nighthaunts, choosing the Thorns of the Briar Queen from Warhammer Underworlds. I revisited card art from the first edition of the game, along with lore from the Nighthaunt Battletome, and began developing a colour scheme. I settled on a ghastly, ghostly green. The scheme kept the traditional darker upper robes with lighter lower tatters.

My New Thorns of the Briar Queen

The full warband took me two days to paint, which is very fast for me. I was pleased with the results, although there were still areas where I felt I had more to learn about Contrast paints.

Refining the Nighthaunt Contrast Scheme

I decided to continue painting Nighthaunts using the same scheme, applying new tips I had picked up. Next, I painted a single Glaivewraith Stalker, and this time the process felt much smoother. As a result, I wrote a How I Paint Nighthaunts Green tutorial.

Glaivewraith Stalker

Continuing to practise the scheme, I built and painted a Lord Executioner. This model required an additional green for the spirits swirling around his gallows, giving me another chance to experiment with Contrast paints and layering.

Lord Executioner

Trying Contrast Paints on Gnoblars

After gaining some confidence, I decided to try something different and paint some Gnoblars, focusing specifically on Gnoblar skin tones. I have been a fan of the Ogor Mawtribes, or Ogre Kingdoms as I still think of them, ever since their release. They are probably my favourite army, although I think the range is long overdue an update.

My existing Gnoblars all look very dark on the tabletop, so this felt like a good opportunity to revisit them using Contrast paints.

Painting Stats
  • Number of miniatures painted this month: 9
  • Number of Warhammer Underworlds warbands painted this year: 1
  • Number of miniatures painted this year: 9

Gaming Update: Warhammer Underworlds

This month, I did not manage to get many games in due to work commitments. However, I did manage to play two games using my newly painted Thorns of the Briar Queen. This allowed me to get a feel for how the warband plays and led me to write a Thorns of the Briar Queen warband review.

These games were also about learning to use the Deadly Synergy deck alongside Edge of the Knife, two decks I had not explored much before. Deadly Synergy seems to be appearing more often, so I wanted to understand what it was trying to achieve in play.



Gaming Stats
  • Games played this year, including tournaments: 2
  • Games played in tournaments this year: 0
  • Tournaments entered this year: 0

Blogging Update

This month, my blogging focus was firmly on the Nighthaunts. I published the following articles:


Finishing Thoughts

Here’s to another year in the Warhammer Underworlds of the Mortal Realms. I am very much looking forward to playing more games, painting new warbands, and continuing to improve at the hobby. I hope to see and hear more from you all as the year goes on.

If you’re enjoying the content, hit that Follow button at the top of the page. It really helps and keeps you updated! Maybe, I can reach 50 followers this year.

If you’d like to support the site a little more, why not take a look at my Beakie-themed merchandise — featuring everyone’s favourite bird in a range of designs?

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What have you been up to this month?

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