Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: armchairgeneral on 06 June 2025, 09:34:38 PM
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Much though I am a fan of the Northstar Frostgrave barbarian set, apart from the metal specialist barbarian packs Northstar do, I just wondered if anyone does any metal equivalents? The only metal barbarians I can find are half naked fellows. What about winter barbarians?
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There are Forlorn Hope Barbarians I like these :D
https://forlornhopegames.co.uk/category/fantasy-warriors/barbarians
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The Forlorn Hope barbarians (originally by Grenadier Miniatures, I think) are often also half naked, but there are some that wear shirts or at least fur cloaks if you pick through the line.
Another possibility might be historical ancient Germans. Again, most don’t have shirts, but some packs have more fellows with tunics or cloaks, like this one: https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/germanic-tribes/products/ag011-ancient-german-suebi-veterans (https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/germanic-tribes/products/ag011-ancient-german-suebi-veterans)
Similar situation with Crusader Miniatures ancient Germans, most are shirtless, or even pants less, but one pack have shirts of cloaks: https://www.crusaderminiatures.com/prod.php?prod=664 (https://www.crusaderminiatures.com/prod.php?prod=664)
I don’t know how Wargames Foundry and Crusader figures compare to Frostgrave barbarians regarding height and bulk.
I’m not sure whether you are looking for cavalry, but it looks like in both ranges the German cavalry have a higher proportion of warriors wearing shirts or cloaks.
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Thanks chaps. I am aware of the Forlorn Hope barbarians. One of two are possible.
This pack from Lucid Eye is as close as I have found so far. Would prefer without armour though.
https://www.lucideyepublications.com/product-page/the-mortals-2
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Additional ranges of reasonably dressed fantasy barbarians does seem to be an underserved market. I’m struggling to think of additional candidates. I had though maybe the old Jez Goodwin barbarians now sold by Alternative Armies might have something, but most fit the usual stereotypes or don’t look like barbarians: https://www.alternative-armies.com/collections/barbarians-from-asgard (https://www.alternative-armies.com/collections/barbarians-from-asgard)
Reaper Miniatures might have some if you search through their catalog.
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Have you looked at the Westwind Productions Nordvolk from their Dwarf Wars range?
They seem to have a bit more clothing than the Germanic tribes and a bit less armour than the Vikings.
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Some of the lucid eye Cro-magnons and Amazon's from their savage core line might work too.
https://www.lucideyepublications.com/product-page/age-of-ice-amazons-1
https://www.lucideyepublications.com/product-page/cro-magnon-bods-1
Also Ral-Partha Europe do some barbarians that might work
https://www.ralparthaeurope.co.uk/shop/ral-partha-fantasy-c-37/fantasy-armies-c-37_39/barbarian-clan-c-37_39_44/02204b-tyrant-with-warhammer-p-1451.html
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Thanks for the responses. The Westwind Nordvolk axemen might be a possibility.
As suspected, the Frostgrave barbarians appear unique. I have assembled a box of them and have been quite impressed. I am a bit old school favouring metals but making an exception with them as they conform to my idea of book faithful LotR Dunlendings and Easterlings.
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Not a suggestion for metals, but if you want to get more out of the Frostgrave barbarians, have you considered kitbashing them with the Frostgrave knights?
The knights sprue has a lot of very 'barbaric' heads on it: horned helmets, moustaches, beards, bare heads and so on. And it also has some hefty two-handed axes. The bodies are too heavily armoured to be run-of-the-mill Dunlendings, but they'd work as leader types.
I suspect you could also harvest some good heads from the crewmen and soldier sprues. Along with the knights, that would give you a lot of options to expand
Also, if you wanted to hint at some of the Dunlendings with Orcish blood, you could try putting Frostgrave gnoll arms on one or two. The barbarian arms are great on the gnolls; vice-versa might give you a slightly unheimlich hint of long-armed ancestors ...
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You could check Gripping Beast
Their tribal warriors are one option https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/Tribal_Warriors--category--150.html
Their Early Saxons are another https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/Early_Saxon_Geoguth--category--75.html
Their Franks are a third https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/MerovingianSalian_Franks--category--417.html
This specific pack from their Saxon/German Tribes are a fourth https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/GET07_Germanic_Warriors_in_Fur_and_Sheepskins_4--product--3105.html
Their Jomsvikings are a fifth https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/Jomsvikings--category--42.html
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Hassle-free has some nice barbarians, though it's a gamble if you get them.