Playmobil Diorama

 

The Bat Lord - an AI Song

 

Here is a tribute song dedicated to Basil and his story.

The song was written with Chat Gpt and set to music using Suno AI.

I like it very much, I was really amazed by the end result

You can find the lyrics here

V From the land of Bricksylvania, where the shadows never sleep, Lived a warlord named Basil, in the dark his secrets keep. Once a common brute of war, his path crossed with a witch, Willa's curse transformed him, his fate a wicked glitch. Hail to the Bat Lord, cursed by witch’s hand, Insane vampiric tyrant, ruling a dark land. Once a warlord mighty, now a creature of the night, Basil the Bat Lord, spreading fear and fright. Willa's spell was cast, in shadows he did fall, Basil became the Bat Lord, the darkest of them all. With eyes that gleamed in madness, and fangs that thirst for blood, He roams the haunted night, in a cloak of crimson flood. Hail to the Bat Lord, cursed by witch’s hand, Insane vampiric tyrant, ruling a dark land. Once a warlord mighty, now a creature of the night, Basil the Bat Lord, spreading fear and fright. In the halls of his dark castle, his laughter fills the air, A tyrant’s reign of terror, none can hope to dare. Bricksylvania trembles, beneath his iron rule, For the Bat Lord’s power, makes the bravest feel a fool. Hail to the Bat Lord, cursed by witch’s hand, Insane vampiric tyrant, ruling a dark land. Once a warlord mighty, now a creature of the night, Basil the Bat Lord, spreading fear and fright. From the miserable land of shadows, his legend now unfolds, Basil the Bat Lord, with a heart forever cold. A tyrant and a monster, under Willa's wicked spell, In the dark of Bricksylvania, his name forever dwells.

Playmobil Knights Diorama

Welcome Home

In this scene, a captured knight is being delivered to his new "home" a tower in the middle of a lake, where he will await his ransom. 

The imposing tower is a BlueBrixx medieval structure, while all the minifigures are LEGO.

The Wolfpack knight, leads the prisoner toward the fortress. 

I created his custom cape by hand, carefully designing it to match the faction’s theme. The atmosphere is enhanced by the misty water reflections, adding to the sense of isolation and captivity.

The diorama captures the classic medieval theme of hostage-taking and ransom, an integral part of chivalric warfare. 

The Crossing

This diorama depicts Grudgebringers cavalry crossing an ancient stone bridge.

I built the stone bridge using polystyrene, carefully sculpted and textured to replicate the look of weathered stone. To ensure durability, I treated the surface to make it waterproof before painting it with realistic stone effects.

However, the bricks on the sides of the bridge are made entirely of cement, cast using silicone molds.

A Lone Knight of the Forestmen

 Today, I’m showcasing a custom LEGO knight inspired by the iconic Forestmen faction from the 1990s. In the photo, you’ll see a gallant knight astride a white horse adorned with a barding I created myself, featuring the Forestmen heraldry. The knight’s green cape also bears the faction’s emblem, tying the design together beautifully.

This knight wears a paladin-style armor and wields a lance alongside a circular shield from BrickWarriors. For the helmet, I repurposed an original LEGO motocross helmet, replacing the flames with two LEGO root pieces to evoke the antlers of a stag—an homage to the Forestmen’s deer emblem.

The pinnacle of the genre, not a video game but a masterpiece of modding: European Warfare

From Age of Empires to European Warfare: A Journey Through Historical RTS Games

My passion for historical real-time strategy (RTS) games began with the original Age of Empires. Like many, I was captivated by its blend of city-building and ancient warfare, and this obsession only grew with Age of Empires II. 

I played it so much that I practically burned out, but my love for the genre didn’t wane.

I vividly remember flipping through a gaming magazine and stumbling upon an announcement for Cossacks: European Wars. The promise of massive armies, well beyond the 200-unit limit of Age of Empires II, left me awestruck. Officers and drummers to organize formations? The ability to rotate formation fronts? It was revolutionary! I dove headfirst into Cossacks, playing every expansion up to Back to War. I still recall the thrill of seeing Prussians introduced in Art of War, the only faction with musket reloading animations. Details like the ponytails on Saxon musketeers and grenadiers made the experience unforgettable. In fact, I specifically chose Saxony because I wanted my soldiers to have those iconic ponytails, which added a unique charm compared to the units of other nations.

Discovering American Conquest

When American Conquest was announced, it promised to take my RTS experience to a whole new level. Spanning from the Discovery of America to the War of 1812, it covered two of my favorite conflicts: the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. To pass the time while waiting, I played Conquest of the New World, losing hours in its chessboard-style battles.

American Conquest introduced innovative mechanics like morale, where units could break formation under heavy losses. But as with Age of Empires, my enthusiasm eventually faded. I began craving something deeper.

Enter European Warfare

My search for more led me to the Hawks Masters of the Field community, a group of history enthusiasts who transformed American Conquest with incredible multiplayer maps and, eventually, the groundbreaking European Warfare mod. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the mod brought a wealth of new features and a far richer gameplay experience.

At the time, I only played the single-player version, but even then, it was a breath of fresh air. The ability to build redoubts and fortify positions became one of my favorite aspects. It felt like a true evolution of the genre, blending strategy, tactics, and historical authenticity.

A Fresh Update for December 2024

Fast forward over a decade, and I’m thrilled to share that a new version of European Warfare has just been released this December. You can download it now at ModDB.com.

The latest version includes revamped single-player missions and an enhanced multiplayer experience. If you want to make the most of it, I highly recommend joining the Hawks' Discord community. The multiplayer matches are where this mod truly shines. A special thanks to Nappy, who welcomed me into the group, patiently explained the mechanics, and always invited me to join their games—it’s been an absolute pleasure.

If you’re a fan of historical RTS games, do yourself a favor and check out the new European Warfare. It’s a labor of love from the Hawks community, and I guarantee it’ll reignite your passion for the genre.

I’m also thrilled to share some exciting news: in the coming months, the updated version of European Warfare 2: The Age of Reason will be released! This mod shifts the focus from the Napoleonic Wars to the Seven Years' War, and perhaps even the French and Indian War. I absolutely can’t wait to experience it!

Find more players and information on the Hawks' Discord and start your journey into one of the most immersive RTS mods ever created.