Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Medieval Adventures => Topic started by: Rotorcraft on 05 March 2014, 02:41:06 PM
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(http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs168/1102816911779/img/222.jpg?a=1116662813984)
New from GB Plastics and released at SALUTE is this versatile and yummy box containing 40 warriors. You can make up to 16 archers, 16 javelin men or 32 spearmen from the box. Usable for SAGA or for Arab and Moorish armies from the conquest period to the siege of Vienna (at a pinch).
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/SAGA-Grand-Melee-2014.html?soid=1102816911779&aid=YACWHDKsaL4
Best regards.
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Thinking of a use alongside the Perry Ansar for a Pulp Army........... :D
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Sathuli for a Drenai game... ;D
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(http://www.hourofwolves.org/images/armies/andalus/4_AndalusianLightHorse.jpg)
I´m thinking of mixing the spare heads with the Andalusian Light Cavalry that was reviewed by one of the LAF members to form a plastic warband for cheap.
http://www.hourofwolves.org/?view=armies&which=andalus&full=1
Brace yourself, plastic Yihad is coming. :D
Regards.
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Fantastic! I could see multiple uses for these. Lord of tHe ring to Vsf
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This is just perfect for my growing Saracen force. :-*
Im interested to see if they plan to release other new miniatures to their comming Crusade suplement of Saga.
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Brace yourself, plastic Yihad is coming. :D
Regards.
Well done. ;)
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Looks like Matakishi's Conan rules might just meet Prince of Persia...
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Ooooh!
Soooo many uses....
:-*
Sathuli for a Drenai game... ;D
Stop it....!
Fantastic! I could see multiple uses for these. Lord of tHe ring to Vsf
And you can pack that lark in too!
:D
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Looks nice.
I was kinda expecting Fireforge to do these first, but I'll take GB as well.
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Looks nice.
I was kinda expecting Fireforge to do these first, but I'll take GB as well.
I've got plans for about four boxes!!! :D
Darrell.
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Ooh! Nice! A large scale opposition for my English army for Tangiers just became affordable.
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I might get some for conversion purposes, but that arm joint is awkward and overall details seem a bit soft.
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I might get some for conversion purposes, but that arm joint is awkward and overall details seem a bit soft.
I agree, I think they look distinctly average, and - as posted elsewhere here - I was monumentally unimpressed with the pitiful choice of components included for your 40 figures with the Dark Age infantry box. Just five bodies, seven heads, shield arms already attached, and not a great choice of weapons either. Poor. Especially compared to the riches included in the boxed sets of certain other plastics manufacturers, for more or less the same price.
If these follow the same model (and I suspect they will, because GB evidently believe in including as few components as they think they can get away with in a plastics box), then I won't be getting them.
Shame, because the idea is a good one. But GB's plastics execution so far has not impressed me :(
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I agree, I think they look distinctly average, and - as posted elsewhere here - I was monumentally unimpressed with the pitiful choice of components included for your 40 figures with the Dark Age infantry box. Just five bodies, seven heads, shield arms already attached, and not a great choice of weapons either. Poor. Especially compared to the riches included in the boxed sets of certain other plastics manufacturers, for more or less the same price.
If these follow the same model (and I suspect they will, because GB evidently believe in including as few components as they think they can get away with in a plastics box), then I won't be getting them.
Shame, because the idea is a good one. But GB's plastics execution so far has not impressed me :(
Whilst I know what you mean, I don't fully agree.
The GB Saxons and Vikings have far more choice in terms of heads, bodies, weapons etc and you'd go boggled-eyed trying to calculate all the possible variations you can make.
Mathematically the Dark Age warriors still make a vast range of different combinations, but they are all rather similar (per your point). I suspect that the business model is that the metal minis give you your nice, variable, individualistic characters, while your rank and file (where you don't need uniformity, just raw numbers) is bulked out with plastics.
I'm content with them, and I'd give the Arab models a go if I get my teeth into a Drenai project (the GB Vikings will give good service as psychotic Vagrian raiders!) because the price differential on putting 40 plastic minis on the table over 40 metal minis is enough to allow me to put another army into service - which for me is a big deal.
But then, everyone here already knows I'm cheap lol
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Ooh! Nice! A large scale opposition for my English army for Tangiers just became affordable.
Exactly so!
A friend of mine is already looking into the possibilities of combining these with the plastic Perry Ansar.
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But then, everyone here already knows I'm cheap lol
That's not what I heard. :D :D
As for Gripping Beast plastics I fall in between like and dislike. The Vikings Hirdmen and Saxon Thegns were pretty good for variation, although I don't like the crouched action so much. However I agree with Captain Blood about the Dark Ages Warriors. Too much similarity in poses (and not very good poses either) and no bows. Poor value for money I felt. I will wait and see what the Arab sprues contain before I shell out my money.
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That's not what I heard. :D :D
As for Gripping Beast plastics I fall in between like and dislike. The Vikings Hirdmen and Saxon Thegns were pretty good for variation, although I don't like the crouched action so much. However I agree with Captain Blood about the Dark Ages Warriors. Too much similarity in poses (and not very good poses either) and no bows. Poor value for money I felt. I will wait and see what the Arab sprues contain before I shell out my money.
I think one has to be prepared to judge any kit on its merits - and these will be no different.
I always try to keep in mind the definition of quality that I was taught: "quality is fitness for purpose". In my view, the GB Dark Age warriors are eminently ideal for my purpose: that of covering the table with spear-armed rabble-like infantry at absolutely minimal cost. Therefore they precisely fit my definition of "quality" lol
A different end use and requirement will of course entirely alter whether or not these are a "quality " product. Which goes back to the original point: I'm cheap ;)
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I always try to keep in mind the definition of quality that I was taught: "quality is fitness for purpose". In my view, the GB Dark Age warriors are eminently ideal for my purpose: that of covering the table with spear-armed rabble-like infantry at absolutely minimal cost. Therefore they precisely fit my definition of "quality" lol
That is a good point well made. With that outlook, I also am quite happy with mine and what they provide me. How dynamic can a man with a spear and large round shield be anyway? Just should've had more head variation!
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Two photos of assembled models at GBs Salute page. Looks like spear arms are same as Dark Age warriors.
http://www.grippingbeast.com/webpage.php?PageID=1044 (http://www.grippingbeast.com/webpage.php?PageID=1044)
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Two photos of assembled models at GBs Salute page. Looks like spear arms are same as Dark Age warriors.
http://www.grippingbeast.com/webpage.php?PageID=1044 (http://www.grippingbeast.com/webpage.php?PageID=1044)
Without paint and having them in my hand, obviously you can't say 100%, but nothing I'm seeing here is putting me off using these for a Sathuli warband...
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For those who may not have seen them, here's the pics from the GB site:
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OH MY GOODNESS, THIS IS THE BEST NEWS I'VE HAD IN AGES!!!! :)
I have been waiting patiently for plastic Andalusians and these definitely fit the bill!
In fact, I'd argue that these aren't actually Arabs, but Andalusians or North Africans. They certainly are not Islamic Expansion era figures... which would fit much more closely to the SAGA timeline. The whole cover-your-face thing was really not big until the North African empires began to expand, which was much later. But hey, I'm ordering two boxes right now!
As for quality, you guys seem to forget the metalic figs: poor variety, absolutely no customization, and very expensive. If you compare these to the old metal Andalusians from GB with their bumpy surfaces and generic poses, these plastics are a million times better!
Thanks
n.
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Aw, I have to wait for salute :(
Oh well, I've been waiting for about 10 years, what's another few weeks?!?
Also, thanks Rotocraft for posting a link to my Andalusian light horse! I'm looking forward to building those out into an army now!!!
Thanks
n.
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Haradrim!
:D
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Haradrim!
:D
That too! ;)
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Also, those straight swords and spangen helmets totally fit the the Andalusian theme as well...
thanks
n
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They look good and can see some conversion scope for other periods 8)
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They look nice
Will be getting a few of those to fight my Crusaders
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While the Hirdmen box is phenomenal these don't look quite as dynamic, but since my interests lay in the fantasy realm, I think a box of these mixed in with other boxes should be quite useful.
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Oh, and these can be used for the Siculo-Normans as well. Good times :)
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Oh, and these can be used for the Siculo-Normans as well. Good times :)
Arabs of the Arab Conquest, Abbasids, Aghlabids, Almohads, Almoravids, Fatimids, Hamdanids, Umayyads, Ayyubids just to name a few ;) :D.
Darrell.
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Yes, quite multipurpose box. Even though like has been noted earlier, those spangen helms are not that Arab conquest like...
But with other plastic kits these will be useful for many periods.
I will mix these with Conquest Games Normans. And interested also about the idea of mixing few of them with Perry Ansar, hopefully we'll get to see how those match up.
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Yes, quite multipurpose box. Even though like has been noted earlier, those spangen helms are not that Arab conquest like...
Easily converted with plastics though ;) :).
But with other plastic kits these will be useful for many periods.
As noted above, they will indeed :D.
Darrell.
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And now some colour pics:
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They do look good. Supremely 'fit for purpose' if you ask me.
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They do look good. Supremely 'fit for purpose' if you ask me.
I agree, they look great! :-* :-* :-*
Darrell.
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Shield transfers have a wonderful, transformative effect ;)
I agree, they look fine. Certainly no worse than many metal figures, and better than quite a few. Be interesting to see them in the flesh tomorrow.
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Typical - I finish my Haradrim and someone brings out a range of plastics I could've used. They do have possibilities as Astapori or even Dornish levies though for my Game of Thrones themed armies - or I could just add another couple of Regts to my Haradrim....
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Shield transfers have a wonderful, transformative effect ;)
I agree, they look fine. Certainly no worse than many metal figures, and better than quite a few. Be interesting to see them in the flesh tomorrow.
I wish I could be there and hope Andy and Darren have a few boxes left post Salute!! :)
Darrell.
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Thanks for the heads up Rotorcraft, I purchased 2 boxes at Salute and they look awesome in the flesh
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I can see a multitude of options for these. Then again, I suffer from severe Compulsive Butterfly Disorder, and would buy each and every mini on sight, if I only had the means to do so... lol
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These look great, I have to say.
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Bought a box at Salute, and love them. They're already being kitbashed with my Fireforge infantry for my Corsairs of Umbar project. Pretty much 100% compatible with the Fireforge stuff (making my life oh, so much simpler!).
My one wish would have been that there was a sprue for a more armoured command group in there too. Still, can't have everything!
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Does the box include transfers too?
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I can see a multitude of options for these. Then again, I suffer from severe Compulsive Butterfly Disorder, and would buy each and every mini on sight, if I only had the means to do so... lol
:o :o
You ARE my evil twin!
:D
Bought a box at Salute, and love them. They're already being kitbashed with my Fireforge infantry for my Corsairs of Umbar project. Pretty much 100% compatible with the Fireforge stuff (making my life oh, so much simpler!).
My one wish would have been that there was a sprue for a more armoured command group in there too. Still, can't have everything!
This is good news indeed.
Thank you for being the bearer of good tidings, sir.
:D
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Does the box include transfers too?
Transfers for the plastic Arabs here:
http://www.grippingbeast.com/shop.php?CatID=3927
So, no. But LBM's are great transfers and worth every penny IMHO.
Darrell.
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http://www.grippingbeast.com/shop.php?CatID=3927
So, no. But LBM's are great transfers and worth every penny IMHO.
Darrell.
Ah, thanks Atheling. I think I got some of their transfers for some Normans or crusaders possibly, havent used them though yet.
It would be nice if the manufacturers adapted the practice prevalent with plastic kits, and included the transfers too. Would save some bother and money for us 'end-users'. But I guess this would involve forming some alliances, making contracts etc. Might be too complicated and diffcult.
Well, the main thing is you can get the transfers anyways. They do look very nice, and give a focus to the minis. I wouldn't fancy free-handing a gadzillion of minis...
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I like them, but if they're as stiff as previous boxes, I might wait until someone get's a box and tires of the monoposes :)
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Ah, thanks Atheling. I think I got some of their transfers for some Normans or crusaders possibly, havent used them though yet.
It would be nice if the manufacturers adapted the practice prevalent with plastic kits, and included the transfers too. Would save some bother and money for us 'end-users'. But I guess this would involve forming some alliances, making contracts etc. Might be too complicated and diffcult.
Well, the main thing is you can get the transfers anyways. They do look very nice, and give a focus to the minis. I wouldn't fancy free-handing a gadzillion of minis...
I painted the shields on my Crusader Normans..... took a bit of time!
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:o :o
You ARE my evil twin!
:D
lol
I even am starting up a couple of scratchbuilding projects, tounament stuff for Crossed Lances, a small riff-raff castle with its hamlet, and a barbarian/orc stronghold Jevenkah-style. The latter needs careful planning though, if everything is to fit together as nicely as hers...
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I painted the shields on my Crusader Normans..... took a bit of time!
I agree with the above. I don't find shield transfers all that valuable, and would prefer not to pay the extra for them.
Also, the think I really like about these plastics - and other GB plastics that I've used - is that they don't over do the folds in the clothes. They kept it a lot like the nice flat surfaces on the best historical figs from Crusader/Foundry/Artizan/etc.
I've assembled a few and I'm really looking forward to painting them!
Thanks
n