Since his announcement in March, the mighty Dragon Emperor of Rhûn has been keeping Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game fans yearning for more information. Dan Entwisle from the Middle-earth team sat down with Keith Robertson, the designer behind this fearsome leader, to find out what goes into a project like the Dragon Emperor.2
Dan Entwisle: What was it like to work on a model that is not only going to be a mighty Hero for the Easterlings, but also the centrepiece of many Easterling collections?
Keith Robertson: It’s really cool! There’s always a little extra pressure when you’re working on what will be such an important miniature for a particular faction, especially one as well liked by the community as Easterlings; but that’s also what makes a project like this so exciting.
Dan: The Dragon Emperor has an incredibly imposing presence, especially when mounted atop his Royal Palanquin; what made you choose these two poses for the mounted and on-foot versions?
Keith: As the leader of the Easterling armies, it was very important that he looked like he was masterfully commanding his warriors from atop his majestic Royal Palanquin. I decided to have him marshalling his troops forwards with just a simple gesture of his glaive; his clenched fist making the nature of his order unmistakeable.
As for the on-foot model, I was keen to make sure that he appeared to be dispatching worthy opponents in the thick of battle – the Dragon Emperor is a deadly combatant in his own right, and it was important that he looked the part once he stepped down onto the battlefield.
Dan: What was the most enjoyable part of the project?
Keith: Making the Royal Palanquin itself was fantastic! I worked closely with one of our concept artists, as well as taking inspiration from the existing Easterling aesthetic and concepts created by WETA Workshop, to ensure that it looked as regal and ornate as possible, while still being functional.
If the Black Dragons carrying the palanquin were to set it down, it would sit comfortably on its legs, allowing the Dragon Emperor to step forth and unleash his wrath upon his enemies.
Dan: What challenges did you face while working on the Dragon Emperor?
Keith: One of the biggest challenges was ensuring that the Royal Palanquin was able to fit on an appropriately-sized base. While we wanted to make sure that the model looked stunning, we also wanted it to function as a user-friendly gaming piece. At the beginning of the project, we sat down as a team to discuss the optimum base size that would ensure that the Dragon Emperor was easy to get onto the tabletop. After a number of design mock-ups, and time at the playtest tables, we found that an 80mm base allowed for practical use on the table, while still giving enough room to make the miniature the best it could be.
Dan: What part of the project are you most proud of?
Keith: I am really pleased with how the lattice-style design of the Royal Palanquin’s walls came out. It was tricky to achieve enough depth to it whilst making sure that it didn’t end up looking too thick or chunky.
Dan: Finally, have you decided how you want to paint your own Dragon Emperor?
Keith: I’ve always loved the look of the Easterlings and have wanted to collect a force of them for a long time, but never took the plunge. The arrival of the Dragon Emperor and the Black Dragons could see me finally get some painted up! I think I will stick with the traditional red and gold, but put a slightly different spin on it by going for a green-tinted, antique gold for the armour and a much deeper red for the cloth.
Thanks guys! The Dragon Emperor of Rhûn is out now – you can find out more about him, and the forces of the Easterlings, in the new Defence of the North supplement.
Keep your eyes on the Warhammer Community website for more details.