Painting Guide: CRITICAL ROLE: Vox Machina

Paints and Techniques

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each model is split up into 4 stages, each with a list of colours and the corresponding paint that was used for it. Each stage uses a different technique to achieve a similar effect on each element but with different colours.

 

Stage 1 is basecoating. Base colours are applied using flat colours. Since the models are primed a lighter colour these initial coats are applied slightly watered down, around 2 parts paint to 1 part water.

 

Stage 2 is shading. During this stage we apply washes and glazes to the more shadowed areas of the miniatures, particularly the lower edges and undersides.

 

Stage 3 is layering. This stage involves applying a layer of a lighter colour, generally focussed towards the top of the model, avoiding the areas previously shaded. This guide also features a lot of line highlights at this stage. This involves applying a thin line of paint to the raised areas and straight edges of the area.

 

Stage 4 is for final details and highlights. This stage involves adding the finishing touches, sometimes just small details like the eyes, or adding small highlights to increase definition.

 

If you find yourself unsure of where to apply the highlights or spot highlights, look over the images alongside the guide and compare that stage to the last.

 

Pike Trickfoot, The Gnome Cleric

Base Coating

Ironbreaker: Apply a basecoat to the armour

Kislev Flesh:  Apply a basecoat to the skin

Ulthuan Grey: Apply a basecoat to the hair

Caledor Sky: Apply a basecoat to the coat and tabard

Averland Sunset: Apply a basecoat to the gloves and armour detailing. 

 

 

 

Shading

Agrax Earthshade: Apply a wash to everything but the hair and face

Reikland Fleshshade: Apply a wash to the skin

Drakenhof Nightshade: Apply a was to the hair

 

 

 

 

 

Layering

Stormhost Silver: Apply a layer to the metals

Kislev Flesh: Apply a layer to the skin

Ulthuan Grey: Apply a layer to the hair

Teclis Blue: Apply a layer to the cloak and tabard

Averland Sunset: Apply a line highlight to the gloves and armour detailing. 

 

 

 

Highlighting

Flayed One Flesh: Apply a line highlight to the face

Ceramite White: Apply a line highlight to the hair

Temple Guard Blue: Apply a line highlight to the cloak and the tabard

Dorn Yellow: Apply an edge highlight to the gloves and armour detailing

Mephiston Red: Apply a layer to the centre jewel

 

 

 

 

Keyleth, the Half-Elf Druid

Basecoating

 

Kabalite Green: Apply a basecoat to the dress

Waaagh! Flesh: Apply a basecoat to the interior of the cloak and collar

Khorne Red: Apply a basecoat to the cloth at the waist and the back of the cloak

Wild Rider Red: Apply a basecoat to the hair

Steel Legion Drab: Apply a basecoat to the straps, staff, and crown. 

Kilslev Flesh: Apply a basecoat to the skin. 

 

 

 

Shading

Reikland Fleshshade: Apply a wash to the skin

Drakenhof Nightshade: Apply a wash to the dress and cloak interior

Agrax Earthshade: Apply a wash to the staff, hair, crown and pouches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layering

Sybarite Green: Apply a line highlight to the dress

Warpstone Glow: Apply a layer to the cloak

Mephiston Red: Apply a line highlight o the cloth at the waist and the back of the cloak

Squig Orange: Apply a layer to the hair

Zandri Dust: Apply a layer to the straps, staff, and crown

Kislev Flesh: Apply a layer to the skin

 

 

 

Highlighting

Gauss Blaster Green:  Apply a spot highlight to the dress

Moot Green: Apply a line highlight to the cloak

Evil Sunz Scarlet: Line highlight to the cloth at the waist and the back of the cloak

Fire Dragon Bright: Apply a spot highlight to the hair

Karak Stone: Apply a line highlight to the straps, staff, and crown

Flayed One Flesh: Apply a line highlight to the skin. 

 

 

 

Percival De Rolo, The Human Gunslinger

Basecoating

Cadian Fleshtone: Apply a basecoat to the skin

Ulthuan Grey: Apply a basecoat to the hair

Macragge Blue: Basecoat the robes

Skrag Brown: Apply a basecoat to the boots and gloves

Dryad Bark: Apply a basecoat to the straps and pouches

Grey Knights Steel: Basecoat the metals

Xereus Pruple: Apply a basecoat to the cravat

Averland Sunset: Apply a basecoat to the detailing

Shading

Agrax Earthshade: Apply a wash to everything but the face and metals

Reikland Fleshshade: Apply a wash to the skin

Nuln Oil: Apply a wash to the metals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layering

Kislev Flesh: Apply a layer to the face

Ceramic White: Apply a layer to the hair

Caledor Sky: Apply a layer to the robes

Deathclaw Brown: Apply a line highlight to the scraps and pouches

Steel Legion Drab: Line highlight the straps and pouches

Ironbreaker: Apply a layer to the metals

Genestealer Purple: Apply a line highlight to the detailing

Averland Sunset: Apply a line highlight to the detailing. 

 

Highlighting

Flayed One Flesh: Apply a line highlight ot the skin

Telclis Blue: Apply a line highlight to the robes

Tau Light Ochre: Apply a spot highlight to the boots and gloves

Karak Stone: Apply a spot highlight to the straps and pouches

Dechala Lilac: Apply a line highlight to the cravat

Dorn Yellow: Apply a spot highlight to the detailing. 

 

 

 

Grog Strongjaw, The Goliath Barbarian

Basecoating

Celestra Gray: Apply a basecoat to the skin and skull

Leadbelcher: Apply a basecoat to the metlals

Khorne Red: Apply a basecoat to the loin cloth

Dark Reaper: apply a basecoat to the trousers and furs

Dryad Bark: Apply a basecoat to the boots, gloves, and straps

 

 

 

Shading

Nuln Oil: Apply a wash across the whole model. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layering

Celestra Grey: Apply a layer to the skin

Ironbreaker: Apply a layer to the metals

Mephiston red: Apply a line highlight to the tabbard

Thunderhawk Blue: Apply a layer to the trousers and furs

Steel Legion Drab: Apply a line highlight to the boots, gloves and straps

Pallid Wych Flesh: Apply a layer to the skull. 

 

 

 

Highlighting

Ulthuan Grey: Apply a line highlight to the skin

Stormhost Silver: Line highlight the metals

Wazdakka Red: Apply a spot highlight to the tabard

Russ Grey: Apply a line highlight to the trousers

Dawnstone: Apply a spot highlight to the furs

Karak Stone: line highlight the boots, gloves, and straps

Abaddon Black: Apply a layer to fill in the tattooed areas

 

 

Scanlan Shorthalt, the Gnome Bard

Basecoating

Celestra Grey: Apply a basecoat to the shirt

Genestealer Purple: Apply a basecoat to the waistcoat and trousers

Dryad Bark: apply a basecoat to the hair

Kislev Flesh: Apply a basecoat to the skin

Skrag Brown: Apply a basecoat to the boots, straps, and lute

Averland Sunset: Appyl a basecoat to the lining on the trousers

Retributor Gold: Apply a basecoat to the metals

 

 

Shading

Agrax Earthshade: Apply a wash across the whole model except the skin

Reikland Fleashshade: Apply a wash to the skin

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layering

Ulthuan Grey: Apply a layer to the shirt

Dechala Lilac: Apply a line highlight to the waistcoat and trousers

Mournfang Brown: Line highlight the ahir

Kislev Flesh:  Apply a layer to the skin

Deathclaw Brown: Apply a line highlight to the boots, strap and lute

Averland Sunset: Apply a line highlight to the lining of the trousers

Gehenna's Gold: Apply a layer to the metals

 

Highlighting

Ceramite White: Apply a line highlight to the shirt

XV-88: Apply a spot highlight to the hair

Flayed One Flesh: Apply a line highlihg to the skin

Dorn Yellow: Apply a spot highlight to the lining of the trousers. 

 

 

 

 

 

Vex'ahlia, The Half-Elf Ranger

Basecoating

Kilsev Flesh: Apply a basecoat to the skin

Teclis Blue: Apply a basecoat to the cloak and tabard

Skrag Brown: Apply a basecoat to the top and boots

Dark Reaper: Apply a basecoat to the trousers and straps

Grey Knights Steel: Apply a basecoat to the metals

 

 

 

Shading 

Nuln Oil: Apply a wash to the whole model except the skin, cloak,and tabard. 

Drakenhof Nightshade: Apply a wash to the cloak and tabard

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layering

Flayed One Flesh: Apply a layer to the skin

Teclis Blue: Layer the cloak and tabard

Deathclaw Brown: Apply a line highlight to the top and boots

Thunderhawk Blue: Line highlight the straps and apply lines down the trousers

Stormhost SIlver: Apply a line highlight to the metals

Caramite White: Apply a line highlight to the fletching

Dawnstone: Apply a line highlight to the hair

 

 

Highlighting

Temple Guard Blue: Apply a spot highlight to the cloak and tabard

Tau Light Ochre: Apply a spot highlight to the top and boots

Celestra Grey: Apply a spot highlihgt to the hair

Russ Grey: Apply a line highlight to the trousers

 

 

 

 

 

Trinket, the Bear

Basecoating

XV-88: Apply a basecoat to the fur

Grey Knight Steel: Apply a basecoat to the armour

Dryad Bark: Apply a basecoat to the straps

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shading

Agrax Earthshade: Apply a wash over the entire model

Nuln Oil: Once the previous wash is dry, apply a wash over the armour

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layering

 Iron Breaker: Apply a light drybrush to the armour

Balour Brown: Apply a layer to the fur

Steel Legion Drab: Apply a line highlight of the straps

Abaddon Black: Apply a layer to the eyes and snout. 

 

 

 

 

Highlighting

 Stormhost Silver: Apply a line highlight to the armour

Balor Brown: Apply a layer to the top half of the fur

Karak Stone: Apply a spot highlight to the straps

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vax'ildan, the Half-Elf Rogue

Basecoating

Dark Reaper: Apply a basecoat to the main clothing and cape

Dryad Bark: Apply a basecoat to the boots, gloves, and hair

Leadbelcher: Apply a basecoat to the metals

Kislev Flesh: Apply a basecoat to the skin

 

 

 

 

Shading

Nuln Oil: Apply a wash over the whole model

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layering

Thunderhawk Blue: apply a line highlight to the clothing and cape

Mournfang Brown: Apply a highlight ot the boots, gloves, and hair

Ironbreaker: Apply a layer to the metals

Flayed One Flesh: Apply a layer to the skin

 

 

 

 

Highlighting

Russ Grey: Apply a spot highlight to the clothing and cape

XV-88: Apply a spot highlight to the boots, gloves, and hair

Storm Host Silver: Apply a spot highlight to the metals

Pallid Wych Flesh:  Apply a spot highlight to the skin

 

 

 

 

 

Eyes

Stage 1

 Abbadon Black: Begin by adding an oval over each eye

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stage 2

Ceramite White: Apply another oval within the first, leaving a little of the black showing around the edges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stage 3

Abaddon Black: Apply a small dot to each eye for the pupil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Words and photography by Andy Leighton

 

This review originally appeared in issue 38 of Tabletop Gaming. Pick up the latest issue of the UK's fastest-growing gaming magazine in print or digital here or subscribe to make sure you never miss another issue.

Sometimes we may include links to online retailers, from which we might receive a commission if you make a purchase. Affiliate links do not influence editorial coverage and will only be used when covering relevant products