Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: Orctrader on June 15, 2010, 10:50:04 AM
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From a purely painting perspective, who makes the "best" Gladiator figures?
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I have about 100 painted up, a mixture of Foundry and West Wind with he odd Black Tree and some others. Crusaders miniatures were not out when I was painting gladiators, but they look nice and I will have to pick some up sometime.
The Foundry ones are very smooth, well sculpted and easy to paint up. The West Wind ones look cruder at first glance but turned out to be some of my favorite ones and they paint up better than I thought.
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...The West Wind ones look cruder at first glance but turned out to be some of my favorite ones and they paint up better than I thought.
Interesting. :) Who sells the WW Gladiators in the UK? Can't seem to find them on the WW site - wanted to look at the pictures.
Crusader figures, mmm, their Gladiators look a bit "clunky" to me.
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I like the Foundry range and have painted some up. I still have lots of unpainted ones I want to part with, so if you're interested to trade or buy, just send me a pm.
:)
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I've painted Foundry and Black Tree Designs gladiators. I'd say I prefer the Foundry ones, but the BTD stuff is decent as well; maybe a bit more "lanky" in their proportions, but the Foundry stuff have that certain Steve-Saleh-Style to them (occasionally, strange muscles, and very sharp features in some places).
Equipment-wise, both ranges seem to be ok. I cannot comment on the West Wind ones, though. For figure quality and ease of procurement (though not necessarily of wallet), I'd say go with the Foundry ones.
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The Crusader are indeed a bit "thick", but the detail is lovely. They are my personal favorites, but I also love Front Rank.
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You didn't watch that documentary last night about the gladiator remains found in York did you by any chance? ;)
It certainly inspired me to look through my old box of lead to find some figures.
I have the foundry ones and they are very nice, I would also recommend the Crusader figures as nice comparable sculpts.
I also have some of the old QT 25mm multi part figures.(Old style but very nice) I really enjoyed putting them together, I think they have three or four Gladiator bodies, then a choice of helmets, weapons etc. I spent quite sometime putting together a small force of all the different Gladiator classes (Myrmillo, Thracian, Retiarius etc) and used to play Rudis by TableTop games.
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You didn't watch that documentary last night about the gladiator remains found in York did you by any chance? ;)
Saw it advertised but didn't watch it. :)
The trailer did remind me that I have never painted any, apart from the Urban Mammoth "Modern" types.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/orctrader/entry3.jpg)
Something that I think of a few times each year. When I watch Spartacus, or Gladiator.
Foundry seem the best chance then. Crusader - will have to take another look. Wonder what the Steve Barber ones are like?
Thanks all for the input.
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If I remember ill take some comparison shot tonight if you want.
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I'm painting a number of Crusader Gladiators at the moment for a commission. Depending on their armour they can be slighty bulky as the lesser armoured gladiators are quite slim.
There is some very nice detail on these miniatures.
Not my genre, but would highly recommend them.
Helen
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I'm painting a number of Crusader Gladiators at the moment for a commission. Depending on their armour they can be slighty bulky as the lesser armoured gladiators are quite slim.
There is some very nice detail on these miniatures.
Not my genre, but would highly recommend them.
Helen
Thanks. :)
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Saw it advertised but didn't watch it. :)
Wonder what the Steve Barber ones are like?
Thanks all for the input.
It was quite good, lots of nice imagery and it certainly highlighted the savagery of the way these guys lived and died. BUt lik eall these pseudo historial/documentaries they could have condensed it into 1/2 hour. They don't half like to repeat themselves in these programmes. ::)
The Steve Barber figures are very nice, lots of variants including spectators etc, but are more like true 25mm.
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Don't forget the Shadowforge female gladiators... :-*
*BOOBS*
:D
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Frankly, I've never been satisfied with any of the ranges of Gladiator figures I've seen (although I don't recall the ones from West Wind). The Foundry Gladiators have always looked squat and dumpy to me, and most other ranges seem the same. I actually think that the short-lived Mordheim Pit Fighter range provided the best Gladiator figures, but they may be hard to acquire...
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I don't like the West Wind ones much (although I've only painted females). The sculptor has this trick of gouging a furrow between details. For example, where a leg meets a skirt there is a deep line. This makes blacklining using flowing washes easy, but is still difficult to get used to.
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Since you didn't ask specifically for 28mm miniatures... :P
Over at Carmen's fun painty time (http://carmensminiaturepainting.blogspot.com/) (see right column) I got convinced by Alpha's/now Blackcat Miniatures' 54mm gladiators. Best reprasentation of gladiators I've seen so far.
Apart from that my favorite gladiatorial ranges in 28mm are Foundry (for their character figs) and Crusader (which have more accurately equipped pairs of fighters).
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Interesting on the Foundry ones, because as I recall, they asked each of their 'star name' sculptors at the time to contribute a couple of packs to the range - so I think I'm right in saying there are Copplestone, Owen, Saleh, Sims and other sculpts all mixed in that range...
The Galloping Major can probably confirm, being an ex-Foundry sculptor himself.
He knows these things... Who did what and to who. And when. ;)
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I am always searching some gladiator models and I paint actually some Crusader Miniatures and there are the most pleasant I paint.
The sculpt is a little cartoonish but the details are there !
Some interesting models (and perhaps accurate model) comes there, like the crupelarius or scissors, interesting ones !
If you search taller, don't hesitate and take pegasus models :
(http://peinturefigurine.free.fr/images/stories/figurines/gladiateurs/b2b_peg_54-164_1.jpg)
You might find some manufacturer with pictures there :
http://peinturefigurine.free.fr/index.php/Gladiateurs/les-modeles-de-gladiateurs-disponibles.html (http://peinturefigurine.free.fr/index.php/Gladiateurs/les-modeles-de-gladiateurs-disponibles.html)
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Wow. Lovely figure...
Yes, I think if I were going to do gladiators - which let's face it only really requires a few figures - 54mm would be the way to do it ::)
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Wow. Lovely figure...
Yes, I think if I were going to do gladiators - which let's face it only really requires a few figures - 54mm would be the way to do it ::)
And I would love to see a 54mm arena table (2x2ft?) done by you. One of those improvised, smaller ones - not as shabby as the Gladiator one in Africa (?), maybe a bit more exciting than the one in Spartacus (although that one was probably more realistic, certainly more than Gladiator's portrayal of the Amphitheatrum Flavium...).
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Thanks for all the input. Ah, decisions, decisions... ::)
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AFAIK gladiator figures are available from Foundry, Crusader, Black Tree, West Wind, Steve Barber, EM4 (painted), the old Gladiator range, Magister Militum ( the Servile War range), 1st Corps, Old Glory ( again the slave revolt ranges- all very useful for Noxi ).
Don't worry if your gladiator seems a bit 'overweight' or 'chunky' because that is probably correct.
Gladiators tended to have a -substantial- layer of fat to protect the muscles beneath from shallow cuts. Remember that gladiatorial fights were mostly a show, and that fights to the death were the exception rather than the norm.
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Remember that gladiatorial fights were mostly a show, and that fights to the death were the exception rather than the norm.
Like WWF wrestling :D
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after last night's episode of Spartacus and the C4 York doc, I'm veering towards some gladiators... what rulesets chaps?
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Yes, I would like to know what rules are used as well.
I think I would most certainly go with 54mm.
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I think I would most certainly go with 54mm.
And I can see why, but I don't paint 54mm. Well, haven't done any yet. ;)
With a few fans here of the Crusader offerings I revisited them and, via google, found some rather nice photos of a few undercoated. Do look very crisply detailed. Due to that and the comments here, I'm leaning towards them now. :)
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We're still using the old Gladiator Games rules 'Morituri Te Salutant'.
Not all types of gladiators are covered but it's a simple thing to create your own sheet.
Fairly simple but realistic rules. Roll for initiative ( lighter gladiator types have an advantage here) by combining a die roll with chosen movement, attack or defense. Some attacks are easier to do and have a higher percentage of success, for instance a 'jab' is way easier than a 'cut' to the head.
Effectiveness of attack is cross-referenced on a chart to give you a result. Early on in the game the results are mostly small cuts which eventually can become wounds or serious wounds. Stunning you opponent is very useful because it restricts him/her to certain moves.
Gladiators get exhausted which makes then slower. Blood loss will also lead to lesser agility and coordination making it harder to hit your enemy.
There's a simple campaign game included with these rules and even a betting system!
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And I can see why, but I don't paint 54mm. Well, haven't done any yet. ;)
With a few fans here of the Crusader offerings I revisited them and, via google, found some rather nice photos of a few undercoated. Do look very crisply detailed. Due to that and the comments here, I'm leaning towards them now. :)
They are certainly the most authentic. Some of the Foundry figures are a 'bit' fantasy- like and the distinction between subclasses blurred.
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We're still using the old Gladiator Games rules 'Morituri Te Salutant'.
Not all types of gladiators are covered but it's a simple thing to create your own sheet.
Fairly simple but realistic rules. Roll for initiative ( lighter gladiator types have an advantage here) by combining a die roll with chosen movement, attack or defense. Some attacks are easier to do and have a higher percentage of success, for instance a 'jab' is way easier than a 'cut' to the head.
Effectiveness of attack is cross-referenced on a chart to give you a result. Early on in the game the results are mostly small cuts which eventually can become wounds or serious wounds. Stunning you opponent is very useful because it restricts him/her to certain moves.
Gladiators get exhausted which makes then slower. Blood loss will also lead to lesser agility and coordination making it harder to hit your enemy.
There's a simple campaign game included with these rules and even a betting system!
There's a basic version of the Morituri te salutant rules here:
http://www.gladiator.clara.net/rules.htm
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Frankly, I've never been satisfied with any of the ranges of Gladiator figures I've seen (although I don't recall the ones from West Wind). The Foundry Gladiators have always looked squat and dumpy to me, and most other ranges seem the same. I actually think that the short-lived Mordheim Pit Fighter range provided the best Gladiator figures, but they may be hard to acquire...
The Mordheim Pit Fighters (http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/armySubUnitCats.jsp?catId=cat1060085&rootCatGameStyle=) are still available through the Specialist Games section of the GW site at $30.00 for all six.
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Dave Thomas has a few 20 figure sets up for sale on e-bay at the moment (Foundry) certainly worth a punt
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I know I'm late to the party on this (as usual), but here are the Crusader gladiators I've managed to paint up and not sell. Some of my friends balked at the "bulky" appearance of these in the bare lead, but they paint up very nicely.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/6/520_10_07_10_1_53_57_2.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/6/520_10_07_10_1_53_57_1.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/6/520_10_07_10_1_53_57_0.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/6/520_10_07_10_1_53_57_3.jpg)
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I know I'm late to the party on this (as usual), but here are the Crusader gladiators I've managed to paint up and not sell. Some of my friends balked at the "bulky" appearance of these in the bare lead, but they paint up very nicely.
Those gladiators are awesome!
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I know I'm late to the party on this (as usual), but here are the Crusader gladiators I've managed to paint up and not sell. Some of my friends balked at the "bulky" appearance of these in the bare lead, but they paint up very nicely.
They look great. :) Nice inspiration.
I haven't got around to making my order yet so if anyone has unpainted Crusader ones they don't want (and at a bargain price, of course ;) ) feel free to drop me a PM. :)