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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Frostie on July 30, 2025, 08:07:58 AM
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Has anyone compiled a list of historical ranges/armies that can be used to represent the armies of the Hyperborean states?
Thanks
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This has come up in discussion on an earlier thread, I think.
Personally, I'm using Mark Copplestone's 'Barbarica' figures with the 'Dragon Rampant' rules - less of an organised army list as such but more of a personal feel to how the units work.
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ironclad just released a new range 28 mm.
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The nations were based on historical ones, so you could use historical miniatures.
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ironclad just released a new range 28 mm.
where?
https://www.ironcladminiatures.com/ourshop
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where?
https://www.ironcladminiatures.com/ourshop
It's not up yet by the look of things. Go to the home page and scroll down; the 3rd news item down mentions them.
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IIRC Hyrkania was based on the Scythians or Parthians.
Aquilonia based on pikes and knights with archers.
This might be helpful:
https://conan.fandom.com/wiki/Hyborian_Age
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Checkout “Royal Armies of the Hyborian Age - A Wargamers Guide to the Age of Conan” – Lin Carter & Scott Bizar (published by FGU.
Cheers,
Geoff😉
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Checkout “Royal Armies of the Hyborian Age - A Wargamers Guide to the Age of Conan” – Lin Carter & Scott Bizar (published by FGU.
Cheers,
Geoff😉
Mainly available as a pdf from FGU or drivethrurpg now.
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All of the above suggestions are great, but I'd also add that the Frostgrave Barbarians have a pretty good Hyperborian look to them! If plastic models aren't your speed, then Mirliton Miniatures' have a range of 28mm barbarians that should fit a Hyperborian force pretty well!
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IIRC Hyrkania was based on the Scythians or Parthians.
Aquilonia based on pikes and knights with archers.
This might be helpful:
https://conan.fandom.com/wiki/Hyborian_Age
It's worth noting that Howard isn't really that knowledgeable about any one era - at times it seems he's aiming for something that high medieval, but he delivers something of deep antiquity.
His Gunderman pikemen, for instance carry shields like a Macedonian phalangite.
So I'd go for rule of cool, and find figure that match your minds eye, as Howard himself doesn't present a consistent vision.
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Or Burgundian pikemen of the 15th century.
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Considering that Howard's Hyborian Age was a fantasy mythological world that he envisaged around the time of Plato's Atlantis, I've chosen to go for ancient armies rather than a high medieval look.
My version of Aquilonia is a mix of greek and roman styles and my Cimmerians have a sort of celtic barbarian look.
It's all fairly subjective and can be interpreted in many different ways - as others have said, even Howard wasn't consistent with the look and times of his created empires.
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Hyborian.
Hyperborea comes from the Greek and refers to a Northern utopia. Howard's Hyperborea was an evil kingdom to the North. It was not what his world was called.
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Or Burgundian pikemen of the 15th century.
But he doesn't describe them like Burgundian pikemen...
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Then don’t use those figures?
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Of course - but for someone looking for guidance on what is appropriate to field as soldiers for these armies, isn't it better to offer suggestions that better match the descriptions?
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Considering that Howard's Hyborian Age was a fantasy mythological world that he envisaged around the time of Plato's Atlantis, I've chosen to go for ancient armies rather than a high medieval look.
My version of Aquilonia is a mix of greek and roman styles and my Cimmerians have a sort of celtic barbarian look.
the Conan Exiles video game had armour sets from the various nations, Aquilonia was roman-ish, Argossean was greek-ish with a heavy dose of marine life, picts were almost native American/celtic, Aesir and Vanir were norse, Darfari were zulu-ish, Nemedian were saxon-ish, Turanian were moor-ish, Yamatai were samurai...
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I started out with Hyboria many, many years ago using a mix of the Garrison Sword and Sorcery range as well as various other historical figures. The descriptions (where they exist) are suitably vague to allow your imagination virtually free reign. Originally inspired by the novels and then by Tony Bath's "Son of Hyboria" campaign. If you haven't heard of it do an internet search as there an abundance of good stuff including:
https://www.scribd.com/document/555506542/Hyborian-Armies-DBA (https://www.scribd.com/document/555506542/Hyborian-Armies-DBA)
https://billinghurst.spalding.gen.nz/Webstuff/hobbies/armatiarmylists.html (https://billinghurst.spalding.gen.nz/Webstuff/hobbies/armatiarmylists.html)
https://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/index.php?title=Sword_and_Sorcery (https://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/index.php?title=Sword_and_Sorcery)
And a search here for "Hyboria" or Hyborian" yielded a huge amount of inspiration including:
https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=126166.0 (https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=126166.0)
https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=135495.0 (https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=135495.0)
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Minifigs did a sword and sorcery range that has a bunch of stuff for a Conan setting. Even if you don't won't to use 1980s retro miniatures ( which would be kind of cool if I'm honest) might be worth looking at the miniatures to see what more modern miniatures you could use for the various factions.
Miniature Figurines Production - Catalogue http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/Catalogue.aspx?ScaleID=3&CategoryID=35&SubCategoryID=388 (http://Miniature Figurines Production - Catalogue http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/Catalogue.aspx?ScaleID=3&CategoryID=35&SubCategoryID=388)
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1989? Surely you jest, sir - go on, pull the other one, it's got bells on! lol
The Sword and Sorcery range was produced in 1975, around the time of their Valley of the 4 winds and Aureola Rococo figures. All of those ranges are really showing their age; sculpting styles and detailed casting techniques had moved on, even by 1989, leaving these ranges behind.
Buy some as curiosities and cool relics of early sculpts by all means - it'd be very cool to see a display of figures through the ages, but I feel that you'd be disappointed in them as wargames figures.
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Buy some as curiosities and cool relics of early sculpts by all means - it'd be very cool to see a display of figures through the ages, but I feel that you'd be disappointed in them as wargames figures.
Oddly enough I still use my 1970s Garrison Sword and Sorcery figures. They are absolutely fine as wargames figures and are perfectly capable of defeating really expensive, huge modern figures. They are easier to paint, look great en masse In the pictures the sharp eyed may see figures from nearly every decade fro the 1970s to the 2020s.
It is a matter of taste (and probably the age of our collections).
(https://i.imgur.com/4XqPA3R.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4XqPA3R.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TReqUQR.jpg)
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Argossean was greek-ish with a heavy dose of marine life, picts were almost native American/celtic, Aesir and Vanir were norse, Darfari were zulu-ish, Nemedian were saxon-ish, Turanian were moor-ish, Yamatai were samurai...
What the Giraffe said...! Howard's influences are all over the place, from Ancient to High Medieval. Bossonian archers were inspired by English longbowmen, for example. And Stygia was an evil, Ancient Egypt. Use the figures you want to for your project. No one is wrong using Ancient figures. No one is wrong using Medieval figures. Have fun, by Crom! :D
Mike Demana
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Oddly enough I still use my 1970s Garrison Sword and Sorcery figures. They are absolutely fine as wargames figures and are perfectly capable of defeating really expensive, huge modern figures. They are easier to paint, look great en masse In the pictures the sharp eyed may see figures from nearly every decade fro the 1970s to the 2020s.
It is a matter of taste (and probably the age of our collections).
But might I humbly contend that the Dick Garrison Sword and Sorcery range is probably not the Miniature Figurines Sword and Sorcery range?
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1989? Surely you jest, sir - go on, pull the other one, it's got bells on! lol
The Sword and Sorcery range was produced in 1975, around the time of their Valley of the 4 winds and Aureola Rococo figures. All of those ranges are really showing their age; sculpting styles and detailed casting techniques had moved on, even by 1989, leaving these ranges behind.
Buy some as curiosities and cool relics of early sculpts by all means - it'd be very cool to see a display of figures through the ages, but I feel that you'd be disappointed in them as wargames figures.
I have 8 or so Aureola Rococo High Elf cavalry that I think are fantastic. They've got more of an otherworldly feel appearance-wise that makes them just wonderful, and I love the Rodney Matthews' vibe, or more accurately, straight-up source of inspiration (my particular examples are right from his "The People of the Pines" artwork). I've been putting off repainting them from my lousy 1980-something paintwork because I'm not sure I can do them justice. I believe what they possess is character, moreso than many of the more modern, cleaner, and more technically accomplished offerings these days. No jesting at all.
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Oh I dunno. I wish I hadn't mentioned the Aureola Rococo range now! lol
I see what you're saying and I know what you mean about the A-R range having a certain style to them and I agree; but have a look at what Ral Partha were doing with their figures in 1975 and, even though it's a more pedestrian style, the figures have far more detail and presence. Much the same could be said for the Minifigs classic fantasy range - they have a lovely style to them but just don't have as much detail as ranges from, say, Ral Partha. And then there's the Minifigs Sword and Sorcery range which, frankly, makes the A-R and CF ranges look flawless by comparison.
I guess we'll just have to disagree on this issue I think.
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Just seen this topic, looking for some phots of painted Aureola Rococo figures! Some of my Minifigs chaps get a mention, but I also went slightly mad and bought a few of my favorite Garrison figures!
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The Sword and Sorcery range was produced in 1975, around the time of their Valley of the 4 winds and Aureola Rococo figures. All of those ranges are really showing their age; sculpting styles and detailed casting techniques had moved on, even by 1989, leaving these ranges behind.
Buy some as curiosities and cool relics of early sculpts by all means - it'd be very cool to see a display of figures through the ages, but I feel that you'd be disappointed in them as wargames figures.
In all honesty, if I could only paint one miniature range from now on, it would be Minifigs. Yes, the sculpting style (done with solder!) is very different from modern figures, but there's so much charm and artistry in those figures. And - crucially - there's so much room for artistry on the part of the painter. If time is no object, there's so much scope for freehand on robes and shields and limbs (tattoos or warpaint or whatever). And the figures do have real presence on the table.
I love the things that John Blanche did with Minifigs - so inspirational! Just look at these examples of his work:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLrSetNlTq7FupP38LaQxF7Mc2UXL9RaDesyqKfCY0HyOo2u57w_OSIsfT5ED-Z6_leOTc-s-PZrOZtLNyqOt3x7b0K3m0ec3L1ZRzc0TSBxYi9WGHZzFs9qkEHEMM4G3F0J8jgObx5zB_/s320/tn_Picture067.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheO3igFc47-I62v4kWCyXssiBpnqnH7kcjFl6yK8kth2uwHiOyLHLAgAeXtTTxfxOeZhG9XyjCclCL0GqBYEw-SDjG-Pi3iYNTrVfpCLRXftmaapev-UVC3fVPm4-k1rebkFz_VbDFKLq4/s320/tn_Picture054.jpg)
(https://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/images/b/b6/John-Blanche-Painted-13.jpg?20220523232527)
(https://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/images/e/e2/John-Blanche-Painted-03.jpg?20210424090251)
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Sculpted with solder? That's crazy - I've never heard of that before! :D
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That were the way, back in the day. Legions of women in dungeon-dark holes, earning a pittance for the privilege of working.
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Sculpted with solder? That's crazy - I've never heard of that before! :D
You can see it being done here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTgt7l4n0ck
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Very impressive!
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Very impressive!
Yeah, it's amazing, I think. It makes me think of the Minifigs ranges as a whole different thing from 'conventional' miniatures.
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Yeah, it's amazing, I think. It makes me think of the Minifigs ranges as a whole different thing from 'conventional' miniatures.
Before the use of plumber's putty "Green stuff" all figures were sculpted using solder and filing. It is the jewellery technique - there are very few people left who can still do this, most of the old Toy Soldier producers have passed on.
When I owned All the Queen's Men, ALL the masters were metal sculptures in 54mm built up with wire and solder and filed to shape.
Creating figures using the expoxy putty is a relatively new thing in the world of toy soldiers.
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Before the use of plumber's putty "Green stuff" all figures were sculpted using solder and filing. It is the jewellery technique - there are very few people left who can still do this, most of the old Toy Soldier producers have passed on.
When I owned All the Queen's Men, ALL the masters were metal sculptures in 54mm built up with wire and solder and filed to shape.
Creating figures using the expoxy putty is a relatively new thing in the world of toy soldiers.
Aha - that's fascinating - thanks! But was there an intermediate stage with other epoxy putties like Miliput being used? I recall that Tom Meier introduced the Perry twins to green stuff after they'd been working at Citadel for a bit. Early Citadel figures are a lot rougher, and there's a rapid improvement from those.
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Sure they were Citadel?
Don't forget that for the first few years, Citadel were casting only a few of their own figures - they mainly cast Ral Partha and Asgard figures, whilst slowly increasing their own figure ranges.
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Sure they were Citadel?
Don't forget that for the first few years, Citadel were casting only a few of their own figures - they mainly cast Ral Partha and Asgard figures, whilst slowly increasing their own figure ranges.
I mean things like the Fiend Factory range. Some of those miniatures still hold up today, but others are much cruder and lumpier. Those were often replaced by more sophisticated versions while the range was still going. For example, take the two Fiend Factory cyclopes:
(http://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/images/0/0e/Citadel-FF-14-1-01.jpg?20171024183441)
(http://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/images/f/f1/Citadel-FF-14-2.jpg?20210323215701)
Now, Citadel started producing Ral Partha's stuff in the early 80s, whereas the first Fiend Factory miniatures were in 1979. I recall reading about Tom Meier coming to the UK and introducing the Perrys to green stuff, so I've always assumed that the earlier, lumpier Citadel figures were done in some other way (though with putty of some sort rather than solder, I think).
I've also wondered if the quantum leap in the quality of Tom Meier's stuff in the late 70s was down to his discovery of green stuff. Compare two different Ral Partha 'giant goblins' (i.e. Uruk-hai), done in 1978 and 1979, respectively:
(http://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/images/3/32/Rp-e654.jpg?20210209210000)
(http://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/images/e/e3/Rp-02-072ba.jpg?20200616084927)
To me, it looks like both the earlier Citadel and Ral Partha figures were done in some sort of 'memory free' putty like Miliput, with the classics that came thereafter done in green stuff. But I could be entirely wrong!
(I should say I really like the very early Citadel and Ral Partha stuff too - though not as much as Minifigs!)
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Citadel started casting Ral Partha figures in the UK in 1978 - Brian Ansell set it up that way only when they had Ral Partha on board as a partner - it was a reciprocal arrangement whereby Citadel cast and sold Ral Partha in the UK and Ral Partha cast and sold Citadel in the US. Have a look at the bases - Citadel bases, from the very beginning, were distinctive; slightly domed, thinning at the edges - some of the 'Citadel' figures in the photograph's do not have Citadel bases.
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Citadel started casting Ral Partha figures in the UK in 1978 - Brian Ansell set it up that way only when they had Ral Partha on board as a partner - it was a reciprocal arrangement whereby Citadel cast and sold Ral Partha in the UK and Ral Partha cast and sold Citadel in the US. Have a look at the bases - Citadel bases, from the very beginning, were distinctive; slightly domed, thinning at the edges - some of the 'Citadel' figures in the photograph's do not have Citadel bases.
I don't think that's quite right: Citadel wasn't incorporated until 28 December 1978, so it effectively didn't exist until 1979, and it announced the RP/Asgard distribution in April 1979. I take your point that it was late 70s rather than early 80s when Citadel started casting and distributing Ral Partha stuff, though.
Those top two are definitely Citadel: the Fiend Factory was Citadel's first range, and there's a mix of base types (possibly reflecting four different designers in Bryan Ansell, the Perry twins and Humphrey Leadbitter).
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Really, so how did the Perry twins start working part-time for Citadel in 1978? lol
They went full-time a couple of years later but there must've been a Citadel in 1978 for them to be sculpting the figures at that time and I'm certainly not going to be the one to call either (or both) of them a liar! lol
Honestly it wouldn't be the first company to have a start date months after they actually started - papers get filed and bureaucracy grinds slowly. It happens.
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Really, so how did the Perry twins start working part-time for Citadel in 1978? lol
They went full-time a couple of years later but there must've been a Citadel in 1978 for them to be sculpting the figures at that time and I'm certainly not going to be the one to call either (or both) of them a liar! lol
Honestly it wouldn't be the first company to have a start date months after they actually started - papers get filed and bureaucracy grinds slowly. It happens.
Sure - work can start for a nascent company that hasn't officially launched; presumably, some of the initial sculpting was done before the company started trading. But as far as I can see, the first Citadel figures weren't advertised or sold until 1979. And - again, as far as I can see - they started selling Ral Partha figures in 1979 too. Here's the launch ad from February 1979:
(http://solegends.com/citads1979/wd11197902-121224-01.jpg)
But ... my question is really about how the earlier, lumpier Citadel figures were sculpted - before Tom Meier introduced the Perrys to green stuff (unless that was done before the first Citadel figures were made).
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Who were the figure sculptors before the Perry's came in? That's really where you should be looking, I think (may well have been Bryan Ansell himself). Have a look at the Citadel miniatures entry on the Lost minis wiki - there's a really interesting timeline there which may help, including their incorporation in 1978 and Tom Meier joining Citadel US in 1981.
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Who were the figure sculptors before the Perry's came in? That's really where you should be looking, I think (may well have been Bryan Ansell himself). Have a look at the Citadel miniatures entry on the Lost minis wiki - there's a really interesting timeline there which may help, including their incorporation in 1978 and Tom Meier joining Citadel US in 1981.
That's where I sourced those photos and the dates.
I mean, the Perrys were there from the start (the official start being 28 December 1978 and the first releases in 1979), with - presumably - some sculpting done before that. Bryan Ansell certainly sculpted some of the FF range; the Perrys and the above-mentioned Humphrey Leadbitter did the rest.
Michael Perry did one of the very first FF models (no. 5 of the 11 initial releases):
(http://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/images/0/08/Citadel-FF-5-1.jpg?20110506024117)
That's certainly one of the 'lumpy' sort, which I'd guess was done in something other than green stuff (though I could be wrong). The impression I've had from interviews I've read is that the Perrys were already sculpting commercially before Tom Meier introduced them to green stuff, which would suggest that those early FF figures fell into a pre-green-stuff (but non-solder) category.
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Citadel, or specifically the Perry twins, were introduced to ‘greenstuff', now called ‘Kneadatite' but then sold as ‘E-POX-E Putty' by me on my first trip to England in about 1979. They wanted to know how I made interlocking chainmail links and I showed them. They observed the technique wouldn't work so well in Milliput because it lacked elasticity so I gave them all the epoxy I had with me and sent them some more when I got home. After that for a while the management of Ral Partha used to send it to them, later they arraigned their own supplies. It all was purchased retail then shipped to England so I'm sure they tried not to waste it."
Tom Meier.
So it looks like they were using milliput and some sort of filler before Tom gave them his greenstuff, but not solder.
Having said that, I think the sculptors probably quickly gained the experience necessary to improve their work, both the sculpting and posing of the figures - so it was probably a combination of experience and material that improved the figures over that time.
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Aha - yes! That's the quote I was half-remembering. Thanks!
And yes, it must be experience as well as material - but the improvements in such a short span of time are astonishing in any case.