Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Mason on February 26, 2013, 07:38:22 AM
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Not something that I intend to do with any urgency, but I wondered if anyone had ever given any thought as to figures to use for the various main characters, ie Druss, Waylander, The Thirty, Ulric etc etc
Also what your imagination conjured as a 'look' for the various races, Drenai, Sathuli, Nadir, etc....
I have my own vision of what these various characters and races should look like would like to see what others think and what figures would represent them best.
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Wow, just what I need, another project I probably can't resist the thought of!
I think it depends how close to the books you want to be.
Any fully armoured plate and mail types would suit as the Thirty - the brighter the better, with plenty of variation in weapons, and your own design for the "Elder Rune" numbers on the helmets - lovely!
For Druss the Legend, check our Gripping Beast's Heroes of the Viking Age - loads of grim looking blokes with big axes! I think the Skarphedin figure would go well as Druss "on the march".
Gemmell based the Nadir on Hun/Mongol steppe raider types, so in theory any of these ought to be suitable. In the books, the Nadir were materially poor people, and the vast majority of warriors fought with small round leather shields, with leather or wooden breastplates.
Kiatze were obviously Chinese derived - lamellar armour and long swords.
The Sathuli ought to be reasonably simple - white robes, worn over armour for the nobles like Joachim, with curved swords. Any sort of stylised middle eastern types!
I felt the Vagrians were based on a kind of Norse or Kievan Rus sort of feel - it would work for me anyway.
Ventrians were kind of Greek/Italianate merchant empire, so Byzantine or Venetian types?
As for the Drenai, they were a sort of northern European "everyman", weren't they? Apart from the Legion, I don't recall there being much that identified them specifically.
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Wow, i haven't read those books in a long time. Following this with interest!
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Definately will follow this. I can't think on any mini suggestions as its been years since I read the books. I must get them again.
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In my mind (because I haven't really done this since about 1985) the Dark Templars in... Waylander? That was the one set 500 years before Legend, right? Anyway, I think it was whichever book it was where the 30 were founded that had some Dark Templars who were like the psychic Gestapo of the main bad dude. I was planning to get some of the Citadel 'Knights of Origo' and paint them with black armour and dark blue surcoats. I was also planning to use 'Mad Mullah Ackland's Death Commandos' from the same period as Sathuli, but they were maybe a bit heavily armoured. Needless to say, I never did.
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The Drenai were a bit vague in terms of what culture David Gemmell based them off. I have often pictured them as Norman types but with some units having better technology like breastplates, bastard swords etc. The mixture of weapon and armour technology that the world of the Drenai has doesn't really allow any faction to fit perfectly with any historical culture, but Mitch K has nailed most of them I think. Remember it is also very possible to add beasts like the Joinings into the fray for the Nadir, was it?
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I think the Joinings were in the King Beyond the Gate, they were the sorcerous/technological (fudge) mutants that the bad dude used to try to put down the rebellion in that foresty mountain bit. Skoda Mountains was it? It's a long while since I read them.
For the Drenai I tend to think 'Robin Hood-ish' for the peasanty people with a bit more plate mail for the top nobs. Sort of late 12th-early 14th centuries, in terms of historical figures that might work.
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Well there's always Hasslefree's Ferrus to get you started...
(http://www.hfminis.co.uk/img_cms/product_images/ferrus%20resin%20copy.jpg)
http://www.hfminis.co.uk/shop?product=ferrus~hfh057&category=miniatures~fantasy-humans
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I think the Joinings were in the King Beyond the Gate, they were the sorcerous/technological (fudge) mutants that the bad dude used to try to put down the rebellion in that foresty mountain bit. Skoda Mountains was it? It's a long while since I read them.
They returned in some other books, including as magically created Nadir creatures and as a new breed of sorcerous/technological Joinings in the Skilgannon novels.
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Well there's always Hasslefree's Ferrus to get you started...
(http://www.hfminis.co.uk/img_cms/product_images/ferrus%20resin%20copy.jpg)
http://www.hfminis.co.uk/shop?product=ferrus~hfh057&category=miniatures~fantasy-humans
Perfect for Druss! It's exactly how I pictured him!
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Now this should be an UBERCOOL thread to follow. David Gemmell & his tales are favorites with moi.
Aside from a bit too much armor, the Ferrus mini looks good for Druss.
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They returned in some other books, including as magically created Nadir creatures and as a new breed of sorcerous/technological Joinings in the Skilgannon novels.
Sorry, I don't even know what the Skilgannon novels are - I read Legend, King Beyond the Gate and Waylander when I was a teenager in the '80s (and the short story of 'Druss the Legend'), and many years later read another one called Deathwalker I think. Not aware of any others, I got bored with Gemmell when he was writing all that Sipstrassi stuff, Knights of Dark Renown and Ghost King and all that. I thought they were awful. I wasn't aware he'd really done any more Drenai tales, I think I saw Deathwalker in a second-hand bookshop and bought it in a fit of nostalgia. Definitely, Drenan was my favourite of his settings!
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I've always pictured Druss as Lucius from the Bones comic book (just add an axe to the picture)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqQOKj4E37cKKMWHBOGLIw3CVw~~3_35.JPG)
Never read any story from young Druss.... :(
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Thanks for all the replies, chaps.
I really was not sure if this subject would grab the imagination, but it is something I have considered for a loooong time (20+ years, at least).
It is the mergence of so many SAGA/Dux Brit warbands lately that has gotten me thinking about it again, as I think the size of warband in those systems would be perfect for this type of project, although the LotR features for heroes may be useful.
I am going to do this in the future some time and was wondering if people had the same take on the races as I did.
On the whole it seems most do, but they are fairly stereotypical so should not be too surprised.
It is the less typical races I was struggling with, Lentria, Vagria, Ventria, but Mitch K has some great suggestions.
The Drenai themselves I see as fairly standard medieval types, certainly not the landsknecht-types that are becoming increasingly popular nowadays, but you may disagree.
Thanks to Gibby and Red Orc for reminding me that the Dark Templars and Joinings need to be considered too. They will certainly be amongst the more 'fantasy' elements. The Joinings would be of various types as well, as the Nadir Joinings were based on Wolves, while Ceska's Joinings wre a wider variety of creatures.
The possibilities.....
Jollybob: That fella would certainly fit the bill as Druss, but I have to agree with DeafNala that the armour is too much. Facially and build-wise, I think he is perfect, as is the axe.
As for that picture, meninobesta: That is pretty much how a lot of people see Druss, too, I imagine. More of a Popeye build. Top heavy with massive shoulders.
You have given me plenty to think about, fellas, so thank you.
If it makes you read the books again, I think you will be thanking me, though!
One small thing, though: No-one has mentioned Waylander, Ulric or Tenaka Khan.
Any suggestions for miniatures to represent these key characters...?
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Bit of a weird suggestion for Waylander perhaps, but what about a human-skin-painted version of the Drow on the far right here:
(http://otherworldminiatures.co.uk/figures/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/drow1paint1.jpg)
It might be that his face is a bit too "elvish" and the style of Otherworld may not match the look of the rest of your figures, but he certainly has the gear and the hair for Waylander!
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I took a stack of SF and fantasy books with me to Shetland in 1989, to do a summer's fieldwork on Unst and Fetlar. That was the summer I was introduced to Legend and Mythago Wood *sigh* Happy days!
I'll follow this thread with interest!
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Ah you are a fan as well, Derek! Excellent!
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Sorry, I don't even know what the Skilgannon novels are - I read Legend, King Beyond the Gate and Waylander when I was a teenager in the '80s (and the short story of 'Druss the Legend'), and many years later read another one called Deathwalker I think. Not aware of any others
There were a couple more Waylander stories, and at least one more Druss novel. The Skilgannon books include Druss as well.
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Cheers for the info...
Checking the wiki info (and I really hope you don't mind, Mason), I thought I'd add a list of all the Drenai tales.
Legend (AKA Against the Horde);
The King Beyond the Gate;
Waylander;
Quest for Lost Heroes (I think I read this too, but have no actual memory of it);
Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf (I was aware of this but had given up reading him by the time it was released);
First Chronicles of Druss the Legend (which might contain the short story I read in about 1988);
The Legend of Deathwalker;
Winter Warriors;
Hero in the Shadows;
and sometimes together and sometimes listed seperately, are the Damned/Skilgannon books:
White Wolf (apparently this had a map in it);
Swords of Day and Night
So it seems I've read approximately half the Drenai stories that were written. Think I'm going to have to track them down at the library now!
And for those who care about such things, the wiki page here puts them in 'historical' order, as well as giving some geographical info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drenai_Series
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Bit of a weird suggestion for Waylander perhaps, but what about a human-skin-painted version of the Drow on the far right here:
It might be that his face is a bit too "elvish" and the style of Otherworld may not match the look of the rest of your figures, but he certainly has the gear and the hair for Waylander!
Thanks for the suggestion, Gibby, I can see that working with minimal effort.
Even if this does not happen for a while, it seems to have awoken a few relapsed Gemmell fans at least!
;)
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I've always imagined Druss from Legend to look a bit like Sean Connery as he is today...
Mick
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Nah, he's Brian Blessed without any of the jollyness lol
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Never red those books, but after reading the description of "Druss" that guy popped up in my mind:
(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt196/Comsquare/RF_Barbarian-Dude-1_zps2bec3b59.jpg)
Don't know if this time it's to less armour though ;)
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:o
Now that fella really could work!
A little work on the armour (not much) and the axe (as Snaga is double-bladed and described several times) and that could be him!
Where is he from?
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Have to warn you, he's not cheap.
Pretty small company, limited run etc.
You'll find him here:
http://rainingfrogsgarage.blogspot.it/2013/02/the-barbarian-dude.html
Have to say I couldn't resist and ordered one ;)
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Bugger!
Sold out!
:'(
May have been a little too big, though.
40mm to top of head would make Druss over seven foot tall....... :o
Still wouldnt say 'No' to getting one, though.
Nice sculpt.
::)
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Sorry, didn't check if he's still available :?
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Cheers Mason, thanks again for your Mordheim thread: The Ruins of Krappefortt, I've drawn a lot of inspiration from your work and battle reports :)
When I first saw this mini, I thought of Waylander. With some work it might make a nice piece. *It's from Talisman 3rd Edition I believe.
(http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag138/Kyusumu/CaptureRanger_zps577ddfad.jpg)
On a personal note, David Gemmel's work and life story had a large influence on me and got me started writing my own stories. As others have mentioned in this thread, David wrote many great novels. Light weight and easy to get into, great tales of tragedy, redemption and overcoming the odds.
~Kyu
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Thanks for the compliment and the recomendation, Kyu.
Much appreciated!
:)
On a personal note, David Gemmel's work and life story had a large influence on me and got me started writing my own stories.
I think he probably influenced a lot of people in different ways.
I ran an RPG, set in my own fantasy world and freely admit that a lot of the ideas for all kinds of things, from characters, places and background were shamelessly looted from his worlds, and the whole group loved it.
Seeing as most of them were avid Gemmell fans obviously helped.
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Bit of a mega-bump here inspired by a discussion that started blooming in the Medieval folder. Didn't want to derail that topic further so thought I'd dig this one out.
Anyway, just been cleaning up this chap:
http://www.grippingbeast.com/product.php?ItemID=1613
...and thought that he'd make a decent Drus the Legend if only he had some hair on top and didn't have that big warhorn. Alas, so close but yet not.