Sunday, April 18, 2010

WFB: The Lizardmen

Hey Guys

Hope you all are doing all right and having a good time hobbying! Well, this time I'll be featuring the lizardmen of WFB and just a little discussion on an observation I have about WFB in general (on its link to past myths).


The lands of Lustria are an exotic and dangerous place...a veritable paradise that promises unimaginable gain in the face of peril, largely thanks to the Lizardmen. The Lizardmen have been described to be a "neutral" army, and are fierce protectors of their kingdom, even tenaciously fighting off the murderous expeditions of Dark Elf slavers.

It is logical that WFB draws upon historical mythical antecedents, which perhaps gives the characters/races of WFB a lot of attractive literary power...something that works on an existing mythical framework, and yet create new content out of it (that is perhaps parallel to contemporary attitudes). Hence, the WFB Lizardmen follow previous myths already in place, perhaps from direct influences such as the lizardfolk in D&D, or ancient humanoid reptilian myths like the the Dragon Kings of China (sounds like Dragon Princes of Ulthuan haha), Cecrops I the Mythical First King of Athens, and even the infamous Gorgons that we all know about.


The Chinese Dragon King of the South.


King Cecrops I, mythical First King of Athens.

Naturally, the concept of mixing 2 separate things together can seem pretty creepy...especially if one half is us, and the other is the slimy reptilia. Ancient myths like these just make me wonder how people at that time thought about it (like accepted facts, or just bed-time stories), and what is the purpose of synthesizing two unlike groups together? To highlight the need of order in life and the unacceptable concept of mixing where we ought not to be? To 'wow' the audience?

3 comments:

  1. First and Foremost, Great picture and Nice painting of the Lizardmen.

    Don't get me wrong, but the color code seems very similar to the default Tyranid color code. Took me sometime before I realize.

    Not sure if that was you're motive. Pretty good details on it.

    As for the adaptation of the "Warhammer" Lizardmen, it is originated with thick "Incan" and "Mayan" culture. It is quite a giveaway, especially where the Jungles of Lustria are located on the Warhammer World. Btw, the Warhammer World looks very much like the real world.

    So in real world context, Bretonnians are french, Chaos are Scandinavians, Empire is based in Germany (No big Surprise there). And Elves are in a World of their own. (Iceland :S)

    However, in the terms of what you have said, I would guess it is the mere development of the human mind to the creation of Anthropomorphism?

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  2. Well, Barney the Dinosaur is a apparition of anthropomorphism, but definitely does not have a lizard men characteristics.. :P LOL

    As for Joshua's quote "Ancient myths like these just make me wonder how people at that time thought about it (like accepted facts, or just bed-time stories), and what is the purpose of synthesizing two unlike groups together? To highlight the need of order in life and the unacceptable concept of mixing where we ought not to be? To 'wow' the audience? "

    I feel that when u identify a Warhammer race with unique attributes and strong cultural characteristics, it has a natural effect for people to easily identify with it.

    It may be generality in nature but just like how we recognize the Samurai with Japan and the Knights with Europe, such easily identifiable attribute do not get people confuse from one race with another and can identify with whichever they like more easily. :P

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  3. Speaking about the acceptance of mixing and where we ought to be or not, I guess it has to do with cultural taboos and differences.

    Perhaps the mixing or the worshiping of paganism or animalistic idols that are a cross between human and animal forms are acceptable in one culture and is shunned by another.

    As for "To highlight the need of order in life and the unacceptable concept of mixing where we ought not to be? to wow the audiences" I don't think that is particularly the main attraction of Warhammer.

    But what might you mean by how is mixing something we ought not to be? Personally, integration of culture and people aren't something i feel that is wrong.

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