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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Basementboy on 14 July 2025, 08:22:59 PM
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Title says it all really- any cavalry mounted on something stranger than horses that I can get for a reasonable price? I like the design of the stormcast gryphon cavalry, and the bug cavalry from necromunda, and I'm looking for some really odd mounts to use for a Hobgoblin project.
At the same time... I don't want to pay GW prices for a couple of models. I've been converting the larger monsters from toy dinosaurs, but if anyone knows a "weird cavalry" kit with reasonable prices for unit building that'd be great.
Thanks in advance! ;)
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Right, so yer ordinary farm animals ain't gonna make the cut then?
Therapods - get some large-ish raptor-like dino's?
Giant turtles - a Japanese company (possibly Furuta) produced some multipart turtle models, about 1"-2". On Ebay, at least mine were.
Get some ordinary horses, convert the head and neck into a hobgoblin centaur - unless wolves or boars might be better?
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The Wargames Atlantic Spiders are intended to be able to be used as cavalry by theor goblins.
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Well I dunno if you consider dinosaurs strange, but a bucket of ~60 cheap dinos cost me like £9. Not all of them look right at scale but it's a lot of 'em.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00TYO5XR8
Some Reaper Bones orcs and greenstuff (procreate) later and I had some cavalry.
(https://i.imgur.com/HygMpPd.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/A3VCjD9.jpeg)
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Ral Partha Europe has Dwarves on mountain goats
https://www.ralparthaeurope.co.uk/shop/ral-partha-fantasy-c-37/fantasy-armies-c-37_39/dwarves-c-37_39_46/02034-dwarf-ram-raider-p-1809.html (https://www.ralparthaeurope.co.uk/shop/ral-partha-fantasy-c-37/fantasy-armies-c-37_39/dwarves-c-37_39_46/02034-dwarf-ram-raider-p-1809.html)
They also have a range of orcs on Hippos and Bison
Tribal Orcs : RPE Miniatures and games, The new Ral Partha Europe Online Store https://share.google/5wKlyav8bcgvrVdEb (http://Tribal Orcs : RPE Miniatures and games, The new Ral Partha Europe Online Store https://share.google/5wKlyav8bcgvrVdEb)
Also Giant orcs on dinosaurs
Gargantua Orcz : RPE Miniatures and games, The new Ral Partha Europe Online Store https://share.google/i7oivd5zXRgYDrUZG (http://Gargantua Orcz : RPE Miniatures and games, The new Ral Partha Europe Online Store https://share.google/i7oivd5zXRgYDrUZG)
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Alternative Armies have Ogres on Rhinoceros
. VNT19 Ogre Cavalry https://share.google/vLDaZwtYqZf2lwvxl (http://. VNT19 Ogre Cavalry https://share.google/vLDaZwtYqZf2lwvxl)
A demon thing on a terror bird
. SHM97 Sekoth Guardian Warbird (Bird with Rider and six arm options) https://share.google/hzlPk87T0CGoajO1F (http://. SHM97 Sekoth Guardian Warbird (Bird with Rider and six arm options) https://share.google/hzlPk87T0CGoajO1F)
And a lizard horse in their Asgard Range
D7 Dragon Lizard Mount with D8 Human Rider or Rider D8 alone https://share.google/tUPvRcfrPdxPB2GH4 (http://D7 Dragon Lizard Mount with D8 Human Rider or Rider D8 alone https://share.google/tUPvRcfrPdxPB2GH4)
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Certainly worth a look at Mantic they have a wide variety of not-horse cavalry.
I think Eureka have some options, but might be thinking of smaller scales.
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Alternative Armies have Ogres on Rhinoceros
. VNT19 Ogre Cavalry https://share.google/vLDaZwtYqZf2lwvxl (http://. VNT19 Ogre Cavalry https://share.google/vLDaZwtYqZf2lwvxl)
A demon thing on a terror bird
. SHM97 Sekoth Guardian Warbird (Bird with Rider and six arm options) https://share.google/hzlPk87T0CGoajO1F (http://. SHM97 Sekoth Guardian Warbird (Bird with Rider and six arm options) https://share.google/hzlPk87T0CGoajO1F)
And a lizard horse in their Asgard Range
D7 Dragon Lizard Mount with D8 Human Rider or Rider D8 alone https://share.google/tUPvRcfrPdxPB2GH4 (http://D7 Dragon Lizard Mount with D8 Human Rider or Rider D8 alone https://share.google/tUPvRcfrPdxPB2GH4)
There are also the warlouses https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/hal034-knight-with-lance-rider-on-warlouse (https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/hal034-knight-with-lance-rider-on-warlouse)
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I used some Lead Boiler Suit Raptors as mounts for my goblins
(https://i.imgur.com/w7ZWdDS.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Oi6vyQY.jpg)
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Not sure about your definition of cost effective, but there are the Fireforge Stone Realm (dwarf) Rambukk Riders.
(https://fireforge-games.com/6356-large_default/rambukk-riders.jpg)
https://fireforge-games.com/stone-realm/1016-rambukk-riders.html (https://fireforge-games.com/stone-realm/1016-rambukk-riders.html)
https://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=16705 (https://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=16705)
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Oh, what about 'Terror Birds' - sort of a meat-eating nasty ostrich type as a riding beast - CP do some and I know there has been talk of other manufacturers having them as well?
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https://www.alternative-armies.com/collections/all/hobgoblin
This alternative armies range has some hobgoblins mounted on hyaenadons.
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Just a note on the Fireforge Games minis - they recently ditched bases for more sprues. So almost all of their kits gained an additional sprue. 12 guys became 18 guys, 6 cav became 9 cav, 24 guys became 30 guys, etc.
Also, while probably not a cheap option, there are some cool minis in some of the 'Epic Encounters' pre-made box sets for D&D. They sell a box of 12-20 plastic minis and slap a map and little pamphlet in there, but they do some unique creatures and that includes some dudes riding stuff. The boxes can occasionally be had for pretty cheap on sale. Actually probably really good little skirmish forces for a lot of games.
Each box of "minions" is linked to a box with the big bad guy (they're separate), but you can see some snake riders here:
(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.dicebreaker.com%2Fepic-encounters-rpg-miniatures.png%2FBROK%2Fresize%2F1920x1920%253E%2Fformat%2Fjpg%2Fquality%2F80%2Fepic-encounters-rpg-miniatures.png&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=6f2137540b36ef4713f5997e350785f0f5c924126fe3628d332bbed70938a9b6)
Some goblins riding toads here:
(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.terraminima.de%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F08%2FEpic-Encounters-Village-Goblin-Chief-01.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=645721916c1e24c71262dc0c27fb41e3315a55183ebfd8beb89667279458dd61)
Lizardmen on...lions?
(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgamesandcomics.it%2Fcatalog%2F196435-large_default%2Fepic-encounters-steppe-of-the-lizard-thane-set-miniature.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=aba6f6355c2369ce27501f8ea6a3bc2c5567e1f2fa63797a02d17b6fe696420b)
Orcs on armoured bears?
(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcdna.artstation.com%2Fp%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fimages%2F062%2F139%2F204%2Flarge%2Fholly-woolford-minis.jpg%3F1682443316&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=a40fd1a88114d0c28dde3a9174d96b22bed5a4249414c40521c8e9261583fef1)
Needless to say you only get 2-4 per box, but just a thought.
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Quar have headless horse things...
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There are some great creature types in the Twilight miniatures range that might suit your needs.
https://shop.worldoftwilight.com/collections/miniatures
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Just a note on the Fireforge Games minis - they recently ditched bases for more sprues. So almost all of their kits gained an additional sprue. 12 guys became 18 guys, 6 cav became 9 cav, 24 guys became 30 guys, etc.
Where did you hear this? A quick google search hasn't mentioned anything about this, and i can't see anything on their website saying it- is this just for a few kits or for all their ranges?
And as an aside, Epic Encounters is an excellent series! The kobold box was the thing that first got me into the miniature hobby, so I'm forever indebted to Steamforge for that. Glad to see they're still going strong :D
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And thanks everyone for the suggestions, these are all great so far :)
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I never got on with Epic Encounters - as an rpg add-on there were far too many miniatures and, as a wargame, far too much rpg stuff and the figures were monopose. If they'd produced different poses for each type of figure I'd have bought it, but the price for what it is really put me off.
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That's totally fair! I think they are aimed at people just getting into the hobby though, and as a youngling at the time having an adventure module, stats for all the monsters, 30 or so miniatures and two gridded maps in one box was a lot of help.
I wouldn't buy the box now since I can just DIY that stuff, but when I didn't have the confidence to it was a real help!
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Alternative Armies have Highland cows.
https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/56511l-highland-cows-for-riding-and-limber-28mm-scale
They are intended to be mounted by Napoleonic fantasy soldiers of their Flintloque range, but I mounted Ral Partha Dwarf Raiders on two of them, instead of rams, to give more variery.
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Yeah - the 'Joccian' Highland rats - had a few of those many years ago.
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Where did you hear this? A quick google search hasn't mentioned anything about this, and i can't see anything on their website saying it- is this just for a few kits or for all their ranges?
And as an aside, Epic Encounters is an excellent series! The kobold box was the thing that first got me into the miniature hobby, so I'm forever indebted to Steamforge for that. Glad to see they're still going strong :D
Just personal experience. I picked up a load of them recently and was happy to notice the change. Their website is current with the box number and states "no bases included", etc. Some of the boxes even came with a little sticker over the number of figures included.
If you look at the promo pictures for say - Northmen Warriors (which launched as a box of twelve) you'll see twelve miniatures pictured...but it states 18 (and you do get 18), etc. Now, this also means you have a stock of retailers out there with the older kits, so you have to be a little choosy. I had previously skipped a lot of their fantasy kits because they inexplicably came with far fewer miniatures than their historic lines, but now they're a bit better deal. Fireforge Games also did free shipping for 100 euros (now 150, sadly), so it was worth buying direct.
Weirdly something like Folk Rabble had 18...and still has 18, so a few kit shave been exempted.
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Thanks for the info! This is great to know, will be sure to bear in mind :D
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If you don't mind 1/72 scale plastic figures, check out Red Box Alliance figures:
Black Riders (https://plasticsoldierreview.com/ShowFeature.aspx?id=204) (Ring Wraiths on horses)
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Centaurs (https://plasticsoldierreview.com/ShowFeature.aspx?id=195)
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Modern Mounted Amazons Set 1 (https://plasticsoldierreview.com/ShowFeature.aspx?id=175), various types of creature mounts
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Light Warg Orcs (https://plasticsoldierreview.com/ShowFeature.aspx?id=158)
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Heavy Warg Orcs (https://plasticsoldierreview.com/ShowFeature.aspx?id=159)
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Warg Half-Orcs (https://plasticsoldierreview.com/ShowFeature.aspx?id=167)
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Take a look, as the 1/72 scale is subjective -- go by the actual figure heights, not the scale measurement. In fantasy, size of creatures is up to the sculptor to decide.
These Red Box sets can usually be purchased on e-Bay for <$20 per box, if you buy from the Red Box company, directly. They paint up well enough, after using a spray primer (I use the least expensive, gray automotive primer I can find at Wal-Mart). Cheers!