Dwarf Unit Ideas

[spacecowsmith]

Hi!

I have got a whole load of units designed for Four A Miniatures and have posted a quick description of each over on the Four A Blog:

http://fouraminiatures.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/guide-to-dwarves.html

As an added bonus I will develop some concept art for the ones folks like the most!

All the best!

[robh]

Nice enough ideas, but really only variants on other Dwarf ranges that are out there.....at least no handgunners so that is something!

How about:
Troops with no armour (and no beards or mohawks!) equipped with sword and bow (the bow and arrow kind), lots of packs and backpacks.
Troops in long priest like robes with spears.
Brawlers/Wrestlers.
Rangers, Thieves, Mages.  Plenty of other class options for Dwarves than just armoured shielded warrior or death wish unarmoured warrior.

[spacecowsmith]

Hi!

What about this sort of thing?



He's a Dwarf I just finished sculpting.

All the best!

[robh]

Technically a superb sculpt, I like the face.

But why can't Dwarves look like this any more?




It can be done:



Serious question, are the only kind of dwarf figures that sell now the GW barrel with boots variety? 

[spacecowsmith]

Hi!

I think the barrel bodied Dwarves sell because people like them. Companies like Reaper do make the non barrel bodied ones too but I must admit a major influence for both myself and Andy is the old Target Games Chronopia which featured the chunkier style of Dwarf.

The Four A Dwarves have a rather different background from your usual mountain dwelling types too. Instead they are nomads who live on a great plain in armoured caravans which gives a bit more scope for variety.

The sculpt you've shown is excellent but looses a little bit of the charm of the original Arthur Rackham illustration and sadly many gamers might not identify him as a Dwarf.

I think that one needs to take into account what sells too, as more folks would be willing to buy a chubby dwarf than a more historically realistic one.

For myself I do love the idea of the Dwarves from Leviathan, well into the industrial age and armed with all manner of steampowered devices with technomancers, shaven oathbreaker suicide troops and blunderbusses.

It may all be a bit derivative but I guess I sculpt and paint what I personally find enjoyable.

All the best!

[Splod]

Hi!

What about this sort of thing?



He's a Dwarf I just finished sculpting.

All the best!

Ooh, I'm going to give him a bolt-pistol and use him to start my new Squat warband. That left fist just needs bulking out to powerfist proportions... Some sci-fi friends for him perhaps?

[Belgian]

Maybe instead of the all round female unit, a mixed militia unit consisting out of youngsters, elder and women. These would be armed with round shields and spears. Just an idea

[commissarmoody]

Good idea there with the militia. And lets face it. Not all Dwarfs are going to be warrors. Going to be lots of worksmen, shopkeepers and other labors.

[Brummie]

I think its gunna be hard to create something that hasn't already been done.

A problem with the miniature/wargaming community is also the constant problem that, people often ask for something new, but that something new for some reason or another never gets bought. People just stick to what they know, its difficult to kick of a new trend.

However here is my input, regardless of what the physical aspect of the Dwarves are; why not some 'savage' Dwarves, there are plenty of armoured, steampunkish, gun wielding dwarves, or viking dwarves, even Ottoman dwarves, so why not some dwarves that are sorta like cavemen?

Just an idea mind.

[Andrew May]

Hmmm neanderdwarves.....