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Miniatures Adventure => Medieval Adventures => Topic started by: Gonzo100100 on 15 September 2021, 08:07:19 AM

Title: GBP Late Roman figures for Byzantium 800-1100?
Post by: Gonzo100100 on 15 September 2021, 08:07:19 AM: I want to build Byzantine army that will be good for 800-1100 (mostly because I already have Normans, Saxon and Vikings).

So far, I want to get minis from Fireforge Games – they all are heavily armed:
Byzantine Cataphracts
Byzantine Horse Archers
Byzantine Koursores
Byzantine Auxiliaries
Byzantine Spearmen
Varangian Guard

I also would like some lightly armed force and for that I consider GBP. However, they seem to be for earlier period, will they fit?
GBP Late Roman Infantry
Late Roman Light Cavalry
Title: Re: GBP Late Roman figures for Byzantium 800-1100?
Post by: Atheling on 15 September 2021, 08:15:27 AM: They are way, way too early for 800-1100.

For 800-1100 you need to be looking at either:

Gripping Beast- Thematic Byzantines:
https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/Thematic_Byzantines--category--50.html (https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/Thematic_Byzantines--category--50.html)
(https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/userfiles/images/sys/products/BZC05_Byzantine_Kataphractoi_Command_4_81034.jpeg)
(https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/userfiles/images/sys/products/BYZ06_Byzantine_Infantry_Standing_Lamellar_4_19367.jpeg)

Or

Crusader Miniatures- "Byzantines" (They are Thematic)
https://www.crusaderminiatures.com/list.php?cat=4&sub=9&page=1 (https://www.crusaderminiatures.com/list.php?cat=4&sub=9&page=1)
(https://www.crusaderminiatures.com/images/dab104.jpg)
(https://www.crusaderminiatures.com/images/dab017.jpg)

Essex Miniatures also do a range though the poses are very limited.

As you can see by the fashions in armours and clothing they look distinctively different to their earlier counterparts.

Hope that helps?
Title: Re: GBP Late Roman figures for Byzantium 800-1100?
Post by: Gonzo100100 on 15 September 2021, 08:56:16 AM: Are there some options for unarmoured levies or for light cavalry with composite bows for SAGA?
I have a Norman force that I believe I could use for Sicilian conquest (I hope I’m not wrong and the William’s Normans and Sicilian ones didn’t differ that much) And I also have still unpainted GBP Arab forces, infantry, archers, heavy and light cavalry. I would like to add a Byzantine force that I perhaps could use for SAGA Age of Crusades (and other games)
Title: Re: GBP Late Roman figures for Byzantium 800-1100?
Post by: Atheling on 15 September 2021, 09:35:37 AM: Quote from: Gonzo100100 on 15 September 2021, 08:56:16 AM
Are there some options for unarmoured levies or for light cavalry with composite bows for SAGA?
I have a Norman force that I believe I could use for Sicilian conquest (I hope I’m not wrong and the William’s Normans and Sicilian ones didn’t differ that much) And I also have still unpainted GBP Arab forces, infantry, archers, heavy and light cavalry. I would like to add a Byzantine force that I perhaps could use for SAGA Age of Crusades (and other games)

I cannot really answer any of the Saga questions as it is about 8 years since I played a game and that was at a show.

However, the Normans were very adaptive and some armours would certainly have a local influence.

If you're going for 800-1100 CE for the Byzantines then my recommendations above stand. The GB Late Romans are no use for the dates you have delineated.
Title: Re: GBP Late Roman figures for Byzantium 800-1100?
Post by: Codsticker on 20 September 2021, 02:39:28 AM: A better bet for lighter armoured troops in plastic would be either GBP Dark Ages Warriors or Conquest Games Norman Infantry and possibly their Medieval Archers set. In both cases you would have to source appropriate shields and modify their footwear. The Crusader Miniatures range Atheling linked to has Psiloi that would give you an idea what they would look like; not too much work would be needed actually.