I Am Matthew Hopkins, Witchfinder! (NEW PICS 13/09)

[Funghy-Fipps]

Randomly browsing the 'net this afternoon I came across the following miniatures which got my creative juices flowing viz a Witchfinder General skirmish game:

Now, I am lucky enough to have this chap lying about unpainted (though I must admit I do like the cut of Black Army's 'Abel, Puritan Witch-Hunter's jib, too):

(Apologies, I half-inched this picture)

Obviously this gentleman will do nicely as a pistol-toting Hopkins, but what about his villainous assistant John Stearne?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  

Also, any thoughts on how I should run this?  In the film witchcraft is a superstition exploited by Hopkins for his own financial and sadistic ends with Ian Ogilvy's Parliamentarian cavalryman attempting to bring his reign of terror to an end.  This could make for a fun swashbuckling-type game (would Gloire perhaps do for rules?).  However, another angle to take would be that witchcraft is real and Hopkins and co. are really battling against the forces of darkness with witches, werewolves, demons et cetera as their foes (in which case possibly using Chaos in Carpathia as rules).  I suppose I could do both, really!  

Lastly, any ideas for suitably characterful Cromwellian cavalrymen to represent Ogilvy and his chums (dismounted, preferably)?

Cheers!

[Funghy-Fipps]

Oh, I missed these fellows entirely!  Liking the preacher and cleric very much.

[Captain Blood]

Damn fine idea. Bugger Gothic Horror, this should be in swashbuckling adventures, old fruit.
Unless of course you are actually planning on the horned / cloven-hooved one making a cameo appearance, in which case I would concede it probably strays over the boundary into Gothic...

Either way, yes I very much like a couple of those Warlord clubmen - viz. the squire and the innkeeper. The rest are, IMHO, nothing to get excited about. Some highly variable quality in sculpting all in one pack. I actually held said pack in my hot little sticky paw at SELWG on Sunday and was within a whisker of parting with the tenner required, but then I thought 'hang it, why buy a pack of 8 figures, only two of which I'm going to use?'.
Warlord do sell them individually I believe, but no-one at SELWG had them. 
I shall bide my time...

Personally, my favourite ECW figures by a country mile come from Bicorne, who have a plethora of chaps in three barred lobster pots, perfect for stereotype stern Parliament Ironsides.

If you go ahead with this rather interesting idea, please keep us posted!

[Doc Twilight]

Randomly browsing the 'net this afternoon I came across the following miniatures which got my creative juices flowing viz a Witchfinder General skirmish game:

Now, I am lucky enough to have this chap lying about unpainted (though I must admit I do like the cut of Black Army's 'Abel, Puritan Witch-Hunter's jib, too):

(Apologies, I half-inched this picture)

Obviously this gentleman will do nicely as a pistol-toting Hopkins, but what about his villainous assistant John Stearne?  Any suggestions would be appreciated. 

Also, any thoughts on how I should run this?  In the film witchcraft is a superstition exploited by Hopkins for his own financial and sadistic ends with Ian Ogilvy's Parliamentarian cavalryman attempting to bring his reign of terror to an end.  This could make for a fun swashbuckling-type game (would Gloire perhaps do for rules?).  However, another angle to take would be that witchcraft is real and Hopkins and co. are really battling against the forces of darkness with witches, werewolves, demons et cetera as their foes (in which case possibly using Chaos in Carpathia as rules).  I suppose I could do both, really! 

Lastly, any ideas for suitably characterful Cromwellian cavalrymen to represent Ogilvy and his chums (dismounted, preferably)?

Cheers!

Funghy -

I'm glad you like Abel. He's certainly the best selling miniature at Black Army atm.... Everybody seems to want one (some want two). No skin off my back:)

I would very much like to expand the range of possibilities for Abel, and I'm always open to ideas and suggestions for figs. I'd like to have a set of corresponding allies, villains, etc.

-Doc

[Malamute]

A great scenario either for horror or swashbuckling.
I second the good captains suggestion of Bicorne miniatures, they are very nice.

[commissarmoody]

Oh this looks like it will be good

[Funghy-Fipps]

Thanks for the encouragement chaps!

Damn fine idea. Bugger Gothic Horror, this should be in swashbuckling adventures, old fruit.
Unless of course you are actually planning on the horned / cloven-hooved one making a cameo appearance, in which case I would concede it probably strays over the boundary into Gothic...

Choosing betwixt the two approaches was initially causing me problems.  Embarrassingly I've just realised that this board is subtitled '...Victorian Era Adventure...', so I'm rather afraid I'm out by a couple of hundred years... (maybe we should be moved?).  Anyway, I watched the film again last night and have decided it would perhaps be fun to run as a non-supernatural swashbuckling game (though, of course, the miniatures could also be used in a 'Gothic Horror'-type game too.  Interestingly my girlfriend commented that if Satan or his minions did make an appearance they'd be on the side of Hopkins!).  From what I've heard Gloire would be the rule-set to use in this instance.

Personally, my favourite ECW figures by a country mile come from Bicorne, who have a plethora of chaps in three barred lobster pots, perfect for stereotype stern Parliament Ironsides.

I second the good captains suggestion of Bicorne miniatures, they are very nice.

I agree that the Bicorne ECW range is rather lovely, but I'm afraid they don't seem to have the dismounted Roundhead-types I desire. Foundry do some suitable models (pack ECW18, top left-hand corner), but I'm not too keen on their ECW miniatures in terms of sculpting and - perhaps more importantly - size.  Certainly some of the mounted Bicorne minis will do admirably for 'stereotype stern Parliament Ironsides'.  The 'Villagers' pack looks promising too!  Actually I've noticed Renegade have some Clubmen models waiting in the wings, but their prodigious size does not generally lend them well to mixing.  It is a shame that there does not seems to be many 'character' models for the 1640s suitable for small-scale skirmish games.  I've always thought gaming the trials and tribulations of post-Civil War Royalist spy-rings Three Musketeers-style would be great fun too... 

I would very much like to expand the range of possibilities for Abel, and I'm always open to ideas and suggestions for figs. I'd like to have a set of corresponding allies, villains, etc.

Well, I wasn't sure if you were sticking with the 'not-Kane' theme, but if you're open to other suggestion how about a Stearne-type assistant and a Cromwellian cavalry officer (who could be either an ally or a foe).  Obviously you've got to think about viability and so forth, but that's what I'd like to see!  I'll start a thread on Forum Noir to further my campaign!  I must say I feel somewhat cheeky because I still haven't placed an order with you yet (as you probably know I'm waiting on the Ehrhardt), but I promise I will pick up Abel when said AC becomes available!

That's all, I guess.  Please keep suggestions coming! 

[Malamute]

Choosing betwixt the two approaches was initially causing me problems.  Embarrassingly I've just realised that this board is subtitled '...Victorian Era Adventure...', so I'm rather afraid I'm out by a couple of hundred years... (maybe we should be moved?).

  It is a shame that there does not seems to be many 'character' models for the 1640s suitable for small-scale skirmish games.  I've always thought gaming the trials and tribulations of post-Civil War Royalist spy-rings Three Musketeers-style would be great fun too... 

No need to move it, its fine here. The Victorian  era reference does not really apply anymore as we cater for all sorts here.
You could copy and paste your thread into the Swashbuckling forum as well.

Another suggestion for you - Redoubt Enterprises figures. Their ECW range are nice chunky large figures and they match perfectly with their Three musketeers range where you will find some nice civilians and thugs.
They also do dismounted cavalrymen and have lots of civilians in the ECW range also.Worth a look.

[Gluteus Maximus]

Those Warlord figures look mostly good to me - especially the "Squire". I'd personally prefer him as Hopkins, rather than the second figure even though his clothes are a bit too ornate for a puritan fanatic, but that's just me being a nerdy ECW geek type   

I'd definitely use him for a provincial militia or trayned bande Colonel and the rest are ideal for a witch-burning mob. Definitely a pack to go on my "wants list".

If I recall, the film was pretty good - definitely on of the better Hammers -and should be the basis for a good game.

Presumably you are looking for something close to this:

[meninobesta]

A long time favorite! 



great idea for the miniatures!

After I've made my samurai monks with TAG miniatures, I must admit that I've became a TAG fan, surely you will find lots of useful minis in their renaissance range:
http://www.theassaultgroup.co.uk/store/home.php?cat=1

[Helen]

Thanks for starting this subject. I've just purchased the uncut version from the US. Interestingly, it's an Australian import, but do you think I could find a copy here in Australia, no.

A lovely project an I look forward in reading more over time - Good luck.

Helen

[Funghy-Fipps]

Another suggestion for you - Redoubt Enterprises figures. Their ECW range are nice chunky large figures and they match perfectly with their Three musketeers range where you will find some nice civilians and thugs.
They also do dismounted cavalrymen and have lots of civilians in the ECW range also.Worth a look.

Ah, I hadn't thought of Redoubt!  I do rather like their ECW miniatures (quirky, albeit in a good way) and as you rightly point out they carry the dismounted cavalry that are vital to this enterprise.  I'll grab three and post some pictures for your perusal (there aren't any on the site).  As you also point out their villagers are also excellent (I like the milk maid) as are their 'Specials', most prominently the 'Gibbet Set'.  Many thanks!

If I recall, the film was pretty good - definitely on of the better Hammers -and should be the basis for a good game.

Actually, it was a Tigon British Film Productions film, rather than a Hammer production (Tigon, along with Amicus, were Hammer's chief rivals in the sixties and seventies)!  I know that stylistically they all look the same though  .  My apologies for being an anal bastard (by the way I received the Hammer Glamour book for my birthday today...)!  You recall correctly, though, it is one of the better Brit horrors from this period despite, interestingly, featuring no supernatural elements. 

Presumably you are looking for something close to this:

An 'accurate' Hopkins miniature would be most welcome and giving the current gaming interest in the ECW a 'witch-finder' vignette would undoubtedly prove popular...  Maybe we should petition Warlord Games!

A long time favorite! 

'Huggy-bear, oh yeah!'     Got the new Griftegård and Sinister Realm albums for my birthday and am enjoying them very much.  Traditional metal (Doom, NWOBHM, Power et cetera) is certainly one of my preferred musical styles.  I think I bought Carnival Bizarre back in '96!

After I've made my samurai monks with TAG miniatures, I must admit that I've became a TAG fan, surely you will find lots of useful minis in their renaissance range:
http://www.theassaultgroup.co.uk/store/home.php?cat=1

I've already looked at the TAG site: Great figures without a doubt, but unfortunately nothing especially suitable, I'm afraid.  As I've said previously there isn't really a great deal of 'character' models for the 1640s, which is a shame...

Thanks for starting this subject. I've just purchased the uncut version from the US. Interestingly, it's an Australian import, but do you think I could find a copy here in Australia, no.

Yes, some of the deleted scenes are pretty damn unpleasant!  Shame they couldn't have cleaned them up a bit for the uncut edition.

On another note, I'm still looking for a Stearne model!

[Gluteus Maximus]

Actually, it was a Tigon British Film Productions film, rather than a Hammer production (Tigon, along with Amicus, were Hammer's chief rivals in the sixties and seventies)!  I know that stylistically they all look the same though  .  My apologies for being an anal bastard (by the way I received the Hammer Glamour book for my birthday today...)!  You recall correctly, though, it is one of the better Brit horrors from this period despite, interestingly, featuring no supernatural elements. 

Well, I never realised that! 

I'd always assumed it was a Hammer, because of the general style of it and as I haven't seen it for many years I never thought to check on the actual production company. Play.com have it on sale at £5.99, so it looks like I might have to get a copy 

No complaints from me about your anal corrections - it's worth getting these things right 

[warhammergrimace]

Nice minis, can't believe I hadn't taken much notice of these guys, they're really nice sculpts.

[white knight]

As I've said previously there isn't really a great deal of 'character' models for the 1640s, which is a shame...

Have you looked at Brigade Games Musketeers range? It's roughly the same period.