3rd update - Butchers, Gorgers, Leadbelchers, oh my!And the blogs back, with new 8th edition updates.
* Disclaimer * Any mention of awesomeness in the blog title refers to the inherent Awesomeness of WFB, not my painting skills (else the blog would have to be renamed TheCaptains Ogre blog of Averageness...) 
Butcher
As some of you may know my favourite part of the hobby is converting my own characters. So of course I was going to have a go at my own butchers. WIP picks below. I went for a more shamanic rather than butcher feel, converted him to be holding a troll skull fetish, and of course gave him a huge 'guts out' belly to match the fluff.
I also cut the body horizontally and vertically to widen and heighten the model.

Originally I gave him a hand weapon/cleaver. However with the new army book Butchers now have access to GW's, so I cut that off and converted a huge shamanic staff/log with a bunch of fetishes dangling off.

Overall I'm happy with the model, though not with the paint job. Though in real life he blends in fine with the rest of the army.
Why a Butcher?Ah, the humble lvl2. This is a great choice for our Ogres, great magic, tough as nails, and can hit like a hammer in combat.
First question, why a butcher and not a Firebelly. Firstly they have access to the Great Maw lore, which provides a much more useful list of spells including plenty of cheapish augments for the Ogre units. Over the course or a match these augments I feel outweigh the Firebellies access to a breath weapon and direct damage spells.
Additionally the lore allow the Butcher to regain lost wounds with each successful cast, which means I can run him right at the front of the army, not afraid he'll be taken out in cc early (T5 as well). For the kit out I couldn't go past the new GW option (
a Toughness 5 4 wound caster with 3 Strength 6 attacks!!!)

On top of this I'll definitely be taking a defensive arcane item, either the humble dispel scroll or (of course) the Hellheart.
Finallly I plan on running a lvl4 or another lvl2 with this butcher, and with both taking Maw magic I have a great chance of being to get the spells I want.
GorgerNext up a gorger. And yep I went for the el'cheapo home conversion option.
Made from an IoB rat ogre with a Irongut head. Simple! I like to imagine that rather than an actual Gorger, he's an exotic cross-breed pet that the Tyrant picked up trading with the skaven. Modelled him to be standing on a rocky outcrop to give a bit more height.

Why a Gorger?Well I like the model.... In the new 8th book you're probably better off taking other fast options such as sabretusks, mournfang cav, yhetees of even maneaters. However one is pretty cheap even though you run the risk of him ambushing late in the game. Good for the fun factor, warmachine hunting, blocking lines of retreat, and simply times when he'll be in the right place at the right time.
And lastly...
WIP LeadbelchersThese guys are straight up leadbelchers, no funky conversions other than to remove the hand holding the cannon for the bellower. These guys need a bit more painting. This unit will likely grwo in size, and a more tactical analysis of them will be provided when the unit is fully finished.

And just for fun, a campaign banner I made up for a local club!
Coming up: more core choices, and man-hunter-eaters!