Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Pikes, Muskets and Flouncy Shirts => Topic started by: Digits on June 29, 2014, 12:24:51 AM
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http://www.earlofmanchesters.co.uk
Does anyone fancy playing wargames with full scale figures?
Come and see us at Chester......or maybe even join
Now, a question, what manufacturers make the best ECW figures please? Also, are there rules for ECW skirmish games?
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About the rules- what kind of skirmish do you want? Role-play like (say up to 15 minis), check Flashing Steel from Ganesha Games or Gloire, or Witchfinder General: Days of Revelation (though this one has some supernatural elements). If you prefer bigger skirmishes (say starting from 30 minis) consider Escalade or maybe adapt Sharp Practice.
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Thank you, I shall check out those last couple. Yes about 30is minis would be what I want.
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"Best figures" is a matter of taste.
The main candidates in 28mm are probably Perry Miniatures:
https://www.perry-miniatures.com/index.php?cPath=23_40&osCsid=2rmj5hunnfo5bqq0fghph90b65 (https://www.perry-miniatures.com/index.php?cPath=23_40&osCsid=2rmj5hunnfo5bqq0fghph90b65)
Bicorne:
http://www.bicorne.net/catalog/index.php?cPath=292_1_30 (http://www.bicorne.net/catalog/index.php?cPath=292_1_30)
And Empress:
http://www.empressminiatures.com/page3.htm (http://www.empressminiatures.com/page3.htm)
Perry and Bicorne are regarded by many as being incompatible with each other for size reasons (Bicorne are larger).
The Perry ones are compatible with the large range from Warlord, including plastics ( http://store.warlordgames.com//collections/pike-shotte (http://store.warlordgames.com//collections/pike-shotte) ) and the older Perry-sculpted range from Foundry ( http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/our-ranges/english-civil-war (http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/our-ranges/english-civil-war) ).
Bicorne used to be complemented perfectly by Renegade (same sculptor), but they closed last year. They will fit with the large, but elderly, range from Redoubt ( http://www.redoubtenterprises.com/shop/?page=shop/browse&category_id=5d59bc1d3a852a248e920f710b812582 (http://www.redoubtenterprises.com/shop/?page=shop/browse&category_id=5d59bc1d3a852a248e920f710b812582) ).
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Cheers. I just checked Perry, I think I will go with these.....
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Empress Miniatures? Have a look?
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Maybe Donny Brook is a good ruleset for a skirmish
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The empress are rather nice. I just ordered two packs from Perry though. How do they stack up against each other?
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Empress are a touch larger. They don't mix well with Perry in the same unit. Being a later range (and Empress being big time ECW enthusiasts) they are more in tune with the latest research. Both ranges are nice and will serve you well. I just think Empress are nicer (but then I am rather biased ;) ).
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As I will be skirmish gaming, figures won't be ranged up next to each other so much so they may suit. I will paint the perrys first then order a pack of empress.
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You're far too sensible! (Laughs out loud!). Can you really be in Manchester's Regiment? (Laughs even louder!). :D
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I really like the Empress Ecw although I have not painted mine yet... Perry have their own charm too. Probably the two best manufacturers in the smaller 28s range.
Warlords plastic ECW I have something of a love hate relationship with, quite good to paint and convert but accuracy of the kit, is questionable and the trousers are just too baggy. Not really a fan of the metals at all- though a lot of weird faces IMHO.
TAG have a nice 'Thirty Years War' range sculpted by Nick Collier, which is quite good for extra drummers, officers and pikemen.
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(Laughs even louder!)
Not the Sparrow?
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Not the Sparrow?
]
lol ;) lol
Gary makes you sound like the Hooded Claw or such like :)
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
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You're far too sensible! (Laughs out loud!). Can you really be in Manchester's Regiment? (Laughs even louder!). :D
So tell me fella....what regiment are YOU in then?
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Lance is right - I am the hooded claw! Come and say hi at Kelmarsh and we can have a natter (you seem to have correctly sussed me!). Good luck,with
Chester by the way. It should be a belter! - Ian B
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It's about taste but I like the Bicorne & Renegade combo. Currently Renegade isn't selling figures, but I've heard rumours they may come back end of this year or next which I hope is true.
Christopher
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It's about taste but I like the Bicorne & Renegade combo.
This.
I tried very hard to love the Empress figures. They are very different in style to anything else out there, and quite exquisite. But I'm afraid I just couldn't get on with painting them. The surface detail is so shallow as to be almost non-existent. Didn't suit me anyway. But definite contenders when it comes to beautiful characterisation.
Mind you, Nick Collier's vast ranges for Bicorne and Renegade are also wonderfully characterful and evocative of the period - just stylistically different.
This question (which ECW / TYW range + compatibility) gets asked so often, we really ought to have a sticky on it... I shall apply myself to that at some point... :)
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I tried very hard to love the Empress figures. They are very different in style to anything else out there, and quite exquisite. But I'm afraid I just couldn't get on with painting them. The surface detail is so shallow as to be almost non-existent. Didn't suit me anyway. But definite contenders when it comes to beautiful characterisation.
You are not the first person to voice this opinion, Captain Blood and I agree with your statements about the shallow details.
I wondered if mine had just been poorly cast. It is a shame because when first I saw them, I thought that they were the best ECW I had ever seen.
It might explain why there are not that many images of them painted, around though.